[00:00:03]
I WANT TO CALL THIS MARCH 4TH, 2026 MEETING OF THE COMMON[Call to Order]
COUNCIL OF THE WHITE PLAINS CITY COUNCIL.I WOULD ASK EVERYBODY TO RISE.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRESSER, WILL YOU PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN OUR MEETING WITH A TERRIFIC THING.
THAT WASN'T THE TERRIFIC THING WE WERE GOING TO BEGIN WITH.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE OATH OF OFFICE AND SWEARING A NEW CITY COURT JUDGE, MICHAEL RUBIN.
[OATH OF OFFICE]
SO I WOULD ASK THAT MICHAEL AND HIS FAMILY COME FORWARD.UH, HIS FATHER, ANDY RUBIN, IS GOING TO LEAD US IN THE OATH.
AND AND WE'RE WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE BEFORE AND LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SERVICE ON OUR BENCH.
THEY'LL YOU CAN GO STAND WITH EVERYBODY.
OKAY. EVERYBODY READY? I'M FROM YOUR SEAT.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION.
SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION.
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS.
THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS.
AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF.
FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF.
THE OFFICE OF THE CITY COURT JUDGE TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
THE OFFICE OF THE CITY COURT JUDGE TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
MR. RUBIN IS GOING TO SAY A FEW WORDS NOW IN HONOR OF HIS, UH.
NOW, HE IS OFFICIALLY A JUDGE OF THE CITY COURT, SO CONGRATULATIONS.
UH, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS ON, SO.
WE SHOULD TALK INTO IT BECAUSE OF THE TELEVISION.
PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME KNOW THAT I AM A MAN OF FEW WORDS, BUT I FIGURED I'D BE GIVEN THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL AND TO THE AUDIENCE HERE.
SO IN ANY CASE, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR AND THE COMMON COUNCIL FOR THEIR CONFIDENCE AND MY ABILITY TO BE A JUDGE IN THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS.
UH, OF COURSE, I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK MY FRIENDS, BOTH PROFESSIONAL AND SOCIAL, UH, MY MENTORS THAT I'VE HAD THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.
UM, AND MOST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK MY FAMILY, MY MOM AND DAD WHO ARE HERE.
UM, OUR NANNY, DALIA, WHO'S IN THE BACK RECORDING THIS.
WHO? WITHOUT HER? UH, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WOULD GET ANYTHING DONE.
AND I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T BE STANDING HERE TODAY IN FRONT OF YOU.
UH, MOST OF ALL, THOUGH, UM, I'D LIKE TO THANK OBVIOUSLY MY KIDS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, MY WIFE, JEN, WITHOUT WHOSE LOVE AND SUPPORT I WOULD NOT BE HERE BEFORE YOU ALL TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS.
PRESSER. DO YOU? UM, I THINK WE CALL THE ROLL FIRST.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO CALL THE ROLL.
NOW, COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRESSER DO WE HAVE A CONSENT AGENDA? INDEED WE DO.
[Consent Agenda (Part 1 of 2)]
MR. MAYOR AND I OFFER THE CONSENT AGENDA OF ITEMS 12 THROUGH 1922 THROUGH 55 AND 57 AND 58, AND REQUEST UNANIMOUS[00:05:05]
CONSENT TO CONSIDER FOR ACTION THE ORDINANCES ON FOR A FIRST READING.I FURTHER MOVE TO ADOPT THOSE ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS.
FILE AND SPREAD ALL COMMUNICATIONS.
REFER THOSE MATTERS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO THE APPROPRIATE CITY DEPARTMENTS, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND FILE ANY ATTACHMENTS.
MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? MR. FRY PEARSON.
PRESSER? YES, MR. SANTIAGO? YES, MISS.
ITEM NUMBER ONE IS A COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMON COUNCIL RECOMMENDING THE APPOINTMENT OF THOMAS CARUSO AS
[1. Communication from the President of the Common Council requesting the appointment of Thomas Caruso as a member of the Common Council. ]
A MEMBER OF THE COMMON COUNCIL.MR. MAYOR, I MOVE THAT THE COMMUNICATION BE FILED AND SPREAD IN FULL UPON THE MINUTES.
MR. MAYOR, I RECOMMEND THE APPOINTMENT OF THOMAS CARUSO AS COUNCIL MEMBER OF THE COMMON COUNCIL.
I THINK CARUSO IS A PUBLIC INTEREST LAWYER WHO CURRENTLY WORKS TRAINING NEW LAWYERS FOR A FAMILY DEFENSE ORGANIZATION.
PRIOR TO THIS, HE WAS AN ATTORNEY REPRESENTING VETERANS IN CASES INVOLVING HOUSING LAW, PUBLIC BENEFITS, CONSUMER PROTECTION, AND BEFORE THE VA AND DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
HE IS A RESIDENT OF WOODCREST HEIGHTS SECTION OF WHITE PLAINS, AND CAME TO WHITE PLAINS TO ATTEND LAW SCHOOL AT PACE UNIVERSITY AFTER BEING HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
OVER THE YEARS, HE'S BEEN INVOLVED IN MANY COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IN WHITE PLAINS, INCLUDING THE WHITE PLAINS PTA.
CUB SCOUTS, BOY SCOUTS, THE CITY'S ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS, AND THE FRIENDS OF.
THE WHITE PLAINS YOUTH BUREAU.
A PASSIONATE ADVOCATE FOR VOTING RIGHTS.
TOM HAS HELPED DESIGN, IMPLEMENT, AND SUPERVISE ELECTION PROTECTION PROGRAMS IN WESTCHESTER AND ROCKLAND.
I ENTHUSIASTICALLY SECOND THE MOTION.
I THINK THAT SHE NEEDS TO RECOMMEND THE APPOINTMENT.
I THINK I DON'T THINK YOU RECOMMENDED THE APPOINTMENT.
I BELIEVE I SAID I RECOMMEND THE APPOINTMENT OF THOMAS CARUSO AS COUNCIL MEMBER OF THE COMMON COUNCIL.
JUST HAVE TO CROSS OUR EYES AND DOUBT OUR TEETH.
OPPOSED? CARRIED. MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? MR. FRY PEARSON? YES.
YES. MR. WOLFE? YES, MR. MAYOR.
NOW, UM, BEFORE MR. CARUSO IS SWORN IN.
DOES ANYONE HAVE A COMMENT THAT THEY WOULD WISH TO MAKE? PLEASE, MISS SANTIAGO.
I'VE KNOWN TOM CARUSO AND HIS LOVELY WIFE, LEFTY, FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
THERE WERE NEIGHBORS OF MINE IN MY BUILDING.
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT HIS, UM, HIS CANDIDACY FOR THE COMMON COUNCIL.
AND, UM, JUST WISHING HIM AND HIS FAMILY WELL.
TOM CARUSO IS GOING TO BE AN EXCELLENT ADDITION TO THIS COUNCIL.
HE'S HE'S A REALLY GOOD PERSON AND I LOVE THAT.
YOU KNOW, HIS VETERAN EXPERIENCE IS GOING TO HELP US TO BE BETTER.
AND THE FACT THAT HE'S SPENT HIS CAREER FIGHTING TO CREATE JUSTICE FOR PEOPLE IN NEED.
UM, YOU'RE GOING TO BE A CREDIT TO THIS CITY.
AND I'M REALLY GLAD TO HAVE YOU.
AND I THINK WE HAVE A REALLY WONDERFUL TEAM.
UM, I HAVE NOT KNOWN TOM THAT LONG, BUT WHEN I WE WERE RUNNING FOR ELECTION THIS YEAR, HE WAS VERY HELPFUL WITH US AND THE OTHER MEMBERS WHO WERE RUNNING FOR THE COMMON COUNCIL, PLUS KEN JENKINS AND ALSO GEORGE LATIMER.
AND HE WAS THERE ALL THE TIME AND REALLY PITCHED IN.
AND I COULD SEE HOW HARD WORKING AND FASTIDIOUS HE WAS.
AND WE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK AT SOME OF THE TRAIN STATION MEETINGS.
AND, UM, HE'S A VERY AFFABLE GENTLEMAN AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM.
I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD ON TO THE COMMENTS FROM MY FELLOW TEAM MEMBERS HERE IN THE COUNCIL.
I HAVEN'T KNOWN TOM THAT LONG, BUT IN THE SHORT TIME I HAVE KNOWN HIM, UM, HE'S BEEN STEADFAST IN HIS CONVICTIONS.
AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HIM JOINING OUR TEAM.
[00:10:03]
OKAY. OH.COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
IN ADDITION TO EVERYTHING ELSE I SAID, TOM AND I GO BACK A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH HIM ON ANYTHING.
AND I AM DELIGHTED THAT HE WILL NOW BE A COLLEAGUE ON THE COMMON COUNCIL.
BEFORE HE COMES UP, I WILL SAY THAT I HAVE KNOWN TOM CARUSO FOR MANY YEARS, MANY YEARS, PROBABLY LIKE 20 YEARS.
AND I KNOW THAT IN ADDITION TO EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S BEEN SAID, HE'S DOWN TO EARTH, HE'S HARD WORKING AND HE'S A PERSON OF COMPASSION AND CARING.
AND HE WILL RETURN PHONE CALLS AND HE WILL GET INTO THE NITTY GRITTY OF HOW TO DO THE THINGS WE CARE MOST ABOUT SUPPORTING OUR YOUTH PROGRAMS. HE SERVED ON THE YOUTH BUREAU, BUREAU BOARD, YOU KNOW, DEALING WITH INCREASING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HELPING US UNDERSTAND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
HE'S GOING TO ADD A LOT TO OUR CITY AND TO OUR TEAM.
AND HE'S VERY PRACTICAL AND THOUGHTFUL.
AND I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL WITH MY COLLEAGUES THAT HE'S TAKEN ON THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE.
WITH THAT, I WILL CALL UP TOM CARUSO AND HIS WIFE, LEFTY, AND WE WILL SWEAR HIM IN.
I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED.
THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS.
AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF.
AND I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF.
THE OFFICE OF MEMBER OF THE COMMON COUNCIL.
THE OFFICE OF MEMBER OF THE COMMON COUNCIL.
FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS.
AND OF COURSE WE WANT TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FAMILY.
THIS IS FUNNY BECAUSE I DON'T USUALLY USE NOTES, BUT I WAS REALLY BUSY SO ANYWAY.
BUT ANYWAY, I REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I TOOK AN OATH TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION.
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THAT, THEY SHAVED MY HEAD, GAVE ME A DUFFEL BAG AND LED ME TO A BARRACKS.
I'M CERTAINLY HOPING THAT THE NEXT THREE MONTHS ARE NOT GOING TO BE AS DIFFICULT AS THE THREE MONTHS FOLLOWING THAT, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING IN COMMON WITH THAT.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY.
UM, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN, WHAT, A QUITE A FEW COMMUNITIES.
AND WHILE WE CALL IT SERVING, IT'S REALLY BENEFICIAL TO ME WHAT HAS BEEN BENEFICIAL.
YOU LEARN A LOT IN THE MILITARY.
UM, FOR INSTANCE, YOU LEARN HOW TO FIND A ONE BY ONE FOOT SQUARE OF GROUND USING A MAP AND A COMPASS.
UM, BUT YOU ALSO LEARN THAT PEOPLE WHO LOOK DIFFERENT THAN YOU ARE, WHO SOUND DIFFERENT THAN YOU ARE, WHO COME FROM DIFFERENT PLACES THAN YOU ARE, AND WHO THINK DIFFERENTLY THAN YOU ARE.
ARE A LOT MORE LIKE YOU THAN YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE.
I BENEFITED FROM MY OTHER COMMUNITIES AS WELL.
AS A VOLUNTEER FOR THE CUB SCOUTS AND THE BOY SCOUTS.
I DISCOVERED HOW HUGE A FIRE A BUNCH OF BOYS CAN BUILD ON A CAMPING TRIP.
IAN. UM, BUT I ALSO DISCOVERED HOW WITH PROPER GUIDANCE, BOYS CAN BECOME TRUE LEADERS AND WHAT THEY CAN ACCOMPLISH.
I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT POLITICS IN MY INVOLVEMENT IN POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS AND THE CITY COMMITTEE OF WHITE PLAINS, THE DEMOCRATIC CITY COMMITTEE.
UM, BUT I LEARNED A LOT MORE AS A PTA PRESIDENT.
UH, THE PTA IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE SMALLEST AND MOST IMPACTFUL LOCAL, DEMOCRATICALLY BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU CAN FIND.
I LEARNED HOW A GROUP OF DEDICATED PEOPLE CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE AND CAN GET A LOT ACCOMPLISHED.
I ALSO LEARNED THE TRUTH OF THE STATEMENT THAT YOU CAN'T PLEASE ALL THE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME.
UM, AND THAT LEADS ME MORE THAN ONE WAYS TO THE COUNCIL.
A GROUP OF VERY DIFFERENT PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER TO GET THINGS DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE COUNCIL IS.
IT'S A GROUP OF DEDICATED DIFFERENT PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER TO GET THINGS DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
I WAS AT THE CENTENNIAL FOR THIS BUILDING ON SUNDAY, AND AS A VETERAN AND A ONE TIME LAWYER REPRESENTING VETERANS, I WAS VERY PLEASED TO HEAR THAT, AT LEAST PARTIALLY, THIS BUILDING
[00:15:04]
WAS DEDICATED TO VETERANS.BUT AS A MEMBER OF WHITE PLAINS COMMUNITY, I WAS REALLY GLAD TO SEE THIS ROOM FILLED TO OVERFLOW, BECAUSE THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY, THEIR INTEREST IN HOW THE CITY IS RUN AND WHAT HAPPENS IN IT, IS WHAT MAKES IT A VIBRANT, HEALTHY PLACE.
SO I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR.
ALLOW ME TO BE PART OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
I'M HAPPY TO THANK OUR NEW, ENERGETIC AND DEDICATED MAYOR JUSTIN FOR HIS SUPPORT AND FRIENDSHIP OVER MANY YEARS.
I WANT TO THANK MY SON IAN AND MY SON EMMETT, WHO IS IN VERMONT AND COULD NOT BE HERE.
I'M VERY PROUD OF BOTH OF YOU, OF THE MEN THAT YOU HAVE BECOME AND MY GREAT DAUGHTER IN LAW, EMILY, WHO'S HERE ALSO TO SUPPORT ME.
BUT MOST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK LEFTY, MY WIFE, FOR ALL HER LOVE AND SUPPORT AND SOMETHING SHE HAS TROUBLE KNOWING IS ALL THE GOOD SHE DOES IN THE WORLD.
AND ANY GOOD THAT I HAVE EVER DONE IS THANKS TO YOU AND YOUR HELP.
FINALLY, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU OUT THERE IN THE AUDIENCE.
WELL, I ALMOST FORGOT MY FRIENDS BRIAN AND CHRISTY FOR COMING ALL THE WAY OVER HERE FOR THIS, BUT I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU IN THE AUDIENCE.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S YOUR INVOLVEMENT TO COME HERE PERSONALLY AND VIRTUALLY.
UM, THAT MAKES THIS A COMMUNITY AND THAT MAKES THIS WORK.
I'M ALWAYS IMPRESSED BY SOME OF THE THINGS I HEAR WHEN I COME TO, OR WHEN I WATCH THE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.
UM, IT'S GREAT THAT, AS GEORGE LATIMER SAID ON SUNDAY, THAT YOU COME HERE TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS COMMUNITY AND TO LET YOUR VOICES BE HEARD.
I PROMISE TO BE OPEN TO THAT INVOLVEMENT AND TO USE EVERYTHING I'VE LEARNED FROM ALL OF MY COMMUNITIES IN THIS POSITION.
WHY DON'T YOU JOIN US? OH. I'M SORRY.
WE'LL EVEN SHOW YOU HOW THAT WATER PITCHER WORKS.
WE ARE NOW BACK TO FULL STRENGTH AS A COUNCIL.
CONGRATULATIONS. WE'RE ALL HERE.
NOW WE GO ON TO THE BUSINESS PORTION OF OUR MEETING, AND I WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
[Consent Agenda (Part 2 of 2)]
SO I WILL BEGIN BY GOING THROUGH TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA AS FOLLOWS.ITEMS 12 THROUGH 13 AUTHORIZES THE SETTLEMENT OF TAX REVIEW PROCEEDINGS.
ITEMS 14 THROUGH 15 AUTHORIZES THE CLOSURE OF CERTAIN PUBLIC STREETS AND AUTHORIZING APPROPRIATE PARKING RESTRICTIONS.
ITEMS 16 THROUGH 19 AUTHORIZES AGREEMENTS WITH WESTCHESTER COUNTY FOR SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL ON COUNTY ROADWAYS AND PRISONER TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.
ITEMS 22 THROUGH 23 AUTHORIZES AN AGREEMENT TO COORDINATE THE YOUTH BUREAU'S ROSEBUD PROGRAM.
ITEMS 24 THROUGH 25 AUTHORIZES AN AGREEMENT WITH NORTH AMERICAN FAMILY INSTITUTE, INC.
IN CONNECTION WITH THE YOUTH BUREAU'S YOUTH POLICE INITIATIVE.
ITEMS 26 THROUGH 27 AUTHORIZES AN AGREEMENT WITH THE AMERICAN RED CROSS TO PROVIDE TRAINING ITEMS. 28 THROUGH 29.
AUTHORIZES AN AGREEMENT WITH THE WHITE PLAINS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT TO MAINTAIN A TRAILER AT EBERSOL ICE RINK.
ITEMS 30 THROUGH 31 AUTHORIZES AN AGREEMENT WITH INTEGRATED TECHNICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
PERTAINING TO THE MAINTENANCE OF MULTI SPACE METERS IN THE CITY'S MUNICIPAL PARKING SYSTEM.
ITEMS 32 THROUGH 33 ACCEPTS A GRANT ON BEHALF OF THE CARNEGIE CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.
COUNCIL MEMBER PRESS COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRESSER WANTS TO COMMENT ON THAT.
IT GIVES ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT A LITTLE MORE MUNICIPAL HISTORY, BECAUSE IN DISCUSSING THIS GRANT ON BEHALF OF THE CARNEGIE CORPORATION, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LIBRARY, LAURA ECKLEY MENTIONED THAT WHITE PLAINS IS A CARNEGIE LIBRARY, AND YOU MAY NOT KNOW WHAT THAT IS.
A CARNEGIE LIBRARY IS A LIBRARY BUILT WITH MONEY DONATED BY THE PHILANTHROPIST ANDREW CARNEGIE.
A TOTAL OF SOME 2500 CARNEGIE LIBRARIES WERE BUILT BETWEEN
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1883 AND 1929, AND OUR LIBRARY, THE ONE ONE BUILDING OF THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL BUILDINGS AFTERWARD, BUT IN 19 09I BELIEVE THAT IS A THE LIBRARY, A HANDSOME RED BRICK GEORGIAN LIBRARY AT THE CORNER OF CORPUS AND GRAND, WAS BUILT THROUGH A GIFT OF $22,000 FROM ANDREW CARNEGIE.1909 THEY HAD ALMOST 10,000 BOOKS IN CIRCULATION, BUT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A CARNEGIE LIBRARY IN WHITE PLAINS IS IS OF NOTE, AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNEW THAT.
ITEMS 34 THROUGH 39 AUTHORIZES AGREEMENTS WITH ARTS WESTCHESTER AND MUSCO SPORTS LIGHTING, LLC, AND ACCEPT SPONSORSHIPS FOR THE WP SOCCER FEST.
ITEMS 40 THROUGH 41 DECLARES THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS, DECLARING ITSELF AS LEAD AGENCY FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW FOR THE PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF THE WHITE PLAINS CITY CENTER PARKING GARAGE PURSUANT TO THE STATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY REVIEW ACT, AND MAKING CERTAIN DETERMINATIONS AND CONNECTIONS THEREWITH.
ITEMS 42 THROUGH 53 GRANTS A ONE YEAR EXTENSION OF SITE PLAN APPROVAL TO THE ELIZABETH SETON PEDIATRIC CENTER TO CONSTRUCT A NEW FIVE STORY BUILDING FOR A 96 BED HEALTH CARE FACILITY, INCLUDING SUPPORT SERVICES AND ASSOCIATED PARKING ON PROPERTY LOCATED AT 315 317 NORTH STREET.
ITEMS 54 THROUGH 55 REFERS AN APPLICATION AND SETS A PUBLIC HEARING FOR APRIL 6TH, 2026, IN RELATION TO AN APPLICATION SUBMITTED ON BEHALF OF F45 TRAINING WHITE PLAINS FOR A SPECIAL PERMIT PERMIT APPROVAL FOR A HEALTH CLUB.
ITEM 57 REFERS TO AN APPLICATION FOR AN EXTENSION OF A SITE PLAN APPROVAL FOR A PROPERTY AT 52 NORTH BROADWAY.
NOW ITEM 58 APPOINTS MEMBERS TO THE MAYOR'S YOUTH BOARD.
I KNOW THAT I HAVE THAT OUR CURRENT YOUTH BOARD CHAIR, JEREMIAH FRYE PEARSON, HAS A FEW COMMENTS ABOUT THAT.
I WANT TO COMMEND DANIELLE ZIELINSKI AND MAYA AMIR FOR JOINING THE YOUTH BOARD.
AND I ALSO JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT IN THIS MEETING, WE HAVE FRANK WILLIAMS, WHO MAKES OUR YOUTH BOARD HAPPEN, AS WELL AS YOUTH BOARD MEMBERS, DOCTOR ENRIQUE JEANETTE AND DOCTOR GABE RODRIGUEZ HERE.
THE YOUTH BOARD IS THE MAYOR SAYS, IS THE SPECIAL SAUCE THAT KEEPS OUR CITY GOING.
AND DANIELLE AND MAYA ARE GOING TO BE PART OF A GROUP THAT WORKS REALLY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY KIDS IN OUR IN OUR CITY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY, AND I'D BE REMISS IF WE DIDN'T THANK THEM FOR VOLUNTEERING.
AND IF I ALSO DIDN'T POINT OUT THAT DANIELLE ZIELINSKI IS JUST A WONDERFUL HUMAN BEING WHO'S ALWAYS TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE IN NEED, AND THE WAY SHE IS EMBODIES WHAT WE TRY TO BE AS A CITY.
SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO DANIELLE AND MAYA FOR JOINING THE YOUTH BOARD.
I MIGHT ADD THAT I ALSO HAVE KNOWN DANIELLE ZIELINSKI FOR MANY YEARS, AND WE'RE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL THAT SOMEONE OF THAT CHARACTER AND COMPASSION AND CARING AND HARD WORK IS GOING TO JOIN OUR YOUTH BUREAU AND HELP OUT.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW MY AMIR THAT WELL, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT I WAS AT THE SENIOR CENTER THE OTHER DAY FOR A DANCE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER EVELYN SANTIAGO AND COUNCIL MEMBER VALERIE SIMMONS, AND THAT WE HAD THE HONOR TO SEE HER WORKING WITH THE SENIORS.
MAYA WAS ONE OF THE YOUTH, HELPING OUT WITH THE SENIORS AND SHOWING THE WAY TO HAVE A GOOD TIME AND TO SHOW THEM A GOOD TIME.
SO THE TWO OF THEM WILL BE TREMENDOUS ADDITIONS.
NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE DISCUSSION PORTION OF OUR AGENDA.
I'D LIKE TO CALL UP DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT
[2. Communication from the Chairman of the Capital Projects Board requesting that the Budget Director be directed to amend the Capital Projects Fund by establishing Capital Project No.C5683, entitled “Fire Station #7 Roof.”]
OF PUBLIC WORKS, JOE TYROS, TO SPEAK ABOUT CAPITAL PROJECTS.ITEM TWO IS A COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS BOARD, REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION TO DIRECT THE BUDGET DIRECTOR TO AMEND THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND BY ESTABLISHING CAPITAL PROJECT NUMBER C5683, ENTITLED FIRE STATION NUMBER SEVEN ROOF.
THE FIRST PROJECT WE HAVE ON THIS, THIS LIST IS A FIRE STATION SEVEN ROOF.
FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, FIRE STATION SEVEN IS LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF RIDGWAY AND NORRIS STREET.
THE ROOF ITSELF IS NEARING ITS END OF ITS USEFUL LIFE FACILITY.
STAFF HAD MADE SEVERAL REPAIRS TO THE ROOF OVER THE YEARS, AND IT'S NOW TIME TO REMOVE THE ROOF AND REPAIR IT IN ITS ENTIRETY.
UH, IT'S PREDOMINANTLY A PITCHED ROOF WITH A FLAT PORTION, BUT WHEN THE PROJECT'S ALL SAID AND DONE, THE ENTIRE ROOF WILL BE REMOVED AND REPLACED.
I MOVED TO FILE AND SPREAD THIS COMMUNICATION.
ITEM THREE IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY
[3. Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains to amend the Capital Projects Fund by establishing Capital Project No.C5683, entitled “Fire Station #7 Roof.”]
OF WHITE PLAINS TO AMEND THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND BY ESTABLISHING ESTABLISHING CAPITAL PROJECT NUMBER C5683,[00:25:02]
ENTITLED FIRE STATION NUMBER SEVEN ROOF.I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO OFFER THE ORDINANCE.
I MOVE ADOPTION OF THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE.
MADAM CLERK, CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE.
ITEM FOUR IS A COMMUNICATION FROM THE CAPITAL PROJECTS BOARD REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION TO DIRECT THE BUDGET DIRECTOR TO
[4. Communication from the Chairman of the Capital Projects Board requesting that the Budget Director be directed to amend the Operating Budget and the Capital Projects Fund by establishing Capital Project No.C5684, entitled “Card Access Firmware and Software Upgrade.”]
AMEND THE OPERATING BUDGET AND CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND BY ESTABLISHING CAPITAL PROJECT NUMBER C5684, ENTITLED CARD ACCESS FIRMWARE AND SOFTWARE UPGRADE.I MOVED TO FILE AND SPREAD THE COMMUNICATION.
I CAN SPEAK ON IT IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
UM, I DON'T THINK THAT'S NECESSARY.
ITEM FIVE IS A BOND ORDINANCE DATED MARCH 4TH, 2026, AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $757,500
[5. Bond Ordinance dated March 4, 2026, authorizing the issuance of $757,500 aggregate principal amount serial bonds of the City of White Plains, County of Westchester, State of New York, to finance the costs of the acquisition of equipment, machinery and apparatus.]
OF AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT SERIAL BONDS OF THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS, COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER, STATE OF NEW YORK.TO FINANCE THE COSTS OF THE ACQUISITION OF EQUIPMENT, MACHINERY AND APPARATUS.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO OFFER THE ORDINANCE.
I MOVE ADOPTION OF THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE.
MADAM CLERK, WE HAVE A ROLL CALL.
YES. MRS. SANTIAGO? YES, MISS.
ITEM SIX IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
[6. Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains to amend the Capital Projects Fund by establishing Capital Project No.C5684, entitled “Card Access Firmware and Software Upgrade.”]
WHITE PLAINS TO AMEND THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND BY ESTABLISHING CAPITAL PROJECT NUMBER C5684, ENTITLED CARD ACCESS FIRMWARE AND SOFTWARE UPGRADE.I ASKED UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO OFFER THE ORDINANCE.
I MOVE ADOPTION OF THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE.
MADAM CLERK, CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE.
YES. MISS SIMMONS YES, MR. WOLFE.
ITEM SEVEN FROM THE CAPITAL PROJECTS REVIEW BOARD REQUESTING THAT THE.
[7. Communication from the Chairman of the Capital Projects Board requesting that the Budget Director be directed to amend the Capital Projects Fund by establishing Capital Project No.C5685, entitled “Kittrell Park Outdoor Bathrooms.”]
DID I READ THAT ONE ALREADY OR NOT? NO. NOT RIGHT.ITEM SEVEN FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CAPITAL PROJECT BOARD, REQUESTING THAT THE BUDGET DIRECTOR BE DIRECTED TO AMEND THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND BY ESTABLISHING CAPITAL PROJECT NUMBER C5685 ENTITLED COTTRELL PARK OUTDOOR BATHROOMS. I MOVED TO FILE AND SPREAD THE COMMUNICATION.
ITEM EIGHT IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS TO AMEND THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND BY
[8. Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains to amend the Capital Projects Fund by establishing Capital Project No. C5685, entitled “Kittrell Park Outdoor Bathrooms.”]
ESTABLISHING CAPITAL PROJECT NUMBER 5685 ENTITLED COTTRELL PARK OUTDOOR BATHROOMS. I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO OFFER THE ORDINANCE.I MOVE ADOPTION OF THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE.
MADAM CLERK, CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE.
ITEM NINE IS A COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS BOARD, REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION TO
[9. Communication from the Chairman of the Capital Projects Board requesting authorization to direct the Budget Director to amend the Capital Projects Fund by establishing Capital Project No. SW5686, entitled “Miscellaneous Sanitary Sewer FY26.”]
DIRECT THE BUDGET DIRECTOR TO AMEND THE CAPITAL PROJECT FUND BY ESTABLISHING CAPITAL PROJECT NUMBER SE 5686, ENTITLED MISCELLANEOUS SANITARY SEWER FOR FISCAL YEAR 26.I MOVED TO FILE AND SPREAD THE COMMUNICATION.
SECOND CARRIED ITEM TEN IS A BOND ORDINANCE DATED MARCH 4TH, 2026, AUTHORING THE ISSUANCE
[10. Bond Ordinance dated March 4, 2026, authorizing the issuance of $1,212,000 aggregate principal amount serial bonds of the City of White Plains, County of Westchester, State of New York, to finance the costs of the improvements to the City’s Sanitary Sewer System.]
AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $1,212,000.SERIAL BONDS OF THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS.
TO FINANCE THE COSTS OF THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CITY'S SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO OFFER THE ORDINANCE.
I MOVE ADOPTION OF THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE.
MADAM CLERK, CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE.
SIMMONS. YES, MR. WOLFE? YES, MR. MAYOR.
ITEM 11 IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS TO AMEND THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND
[11. Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains to amend the Capital Projects Fund by establishing Capital Project No.SW5686, entitled “Miscellaneous Sanitary Sewer FY26.”]
BY ESTABLISHING CAPITAL PROJECT NUMBER SE 5686, ENTITLED MISCELLANEOUS SANITARY SEWER FY 26.I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO OFFER THE ORDINANCE.
[00:30:01]
I MOVE ADOPTION OF THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE.MADAM CLERK, CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE.
PRESSER. YES, MRS. SANTIAGO? YES, MISS.
ITEM 20 IS A COMMUNICATION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF THE YOUTH BUREAU, REQUESTING TO ESTABLISH AND APPROVE A FEE SCHEDULE FOR
[20. Communication from the Director of the Youth Bureau requesting to establish and approve a fee schedule for various programs and camps organized and operated by the Youth Bureau for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.]
VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND CAMPS ORGANIZED AND OPERATED BY THE YOUTH BUREAU FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 TO 2027.FILE AND SPREAD THE COMMUNICATION.
I WOULD NOW LIKE TO INVITE THE DIRECTOR OF OUR YOUTH BUREAU, FRANK WILLIAMS, TO THE PODIUM TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED FEE SCHEDULE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 TO 2027.
MEMBER I DON'T WANT TO START ALL OVER.
WE'RE HERE TO, UH, PRESENT TO YOU A PROPOSAL FOR A 3% FEE INCREASE, UH, FOR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM.
AND AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, UH, AFTER SCHOOL CHILD CARE IS SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, FOR WORKING PARENTS AND, AND TO HELP KEEP OUR, OUR CHILDREN SAFE AND HAPPY, UH, DURING THE SCHOOL, UH, TIME WHEN THEIR PARENTS ARE WORKING.
UH, SO WE'RE PROPOSING A 3% FEE INCREASE AND A FULL FEE, WHICH IS CURRENTLY $412, WILL GO, UH, FROM 412 TO 424.
A SCHOLARSHIP RATE IS 253 AND WILL INCREASE BY $7.59.
AND IT WILL IT WILL GO TO $2 $261.
AND THEN WE ALSO OFFER DISCOUNTS FOR PARENTS WHO HAVE TWO AND THREE CHILDREN IN THE PROGRAM.
SO WE ALSO ARE PROPOSING A, UH, INCREASE FOR THOSE CHILDREN AND PARENTS AS WELL.
AND AS YOU KNOW, PART OF OUR CULTURE AND OUR POLICY, WE NEVER SAY NO TO ANYBODY.
WE ACCEPT PARENTS ILL, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ECONOMIC AND CIRCUMSTANCE.
WE'RE ALSO ASKING FOR 3.3% INCREASE IN OUR BEFORE SCHOOL PROGRAM.
WE HAVE OVER 100 CHILDREN IN THAT PROGRAM AND OVER 300 KIDS IN OUR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM.
OUR CURRENT FEE FOR THE BEFORE SCHOOL PROGRAM IS $230.
WE'RE ASKING FOR A $6.90 FEE INCREASE, WHICH WOULD GO TO $237 FOR OUR BITS AND PIECES SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM.
THE CURRENT FEE FULL FEE IS 100.
IT'S $1,112, AND IT WILL INCREASE TO $1,145.
WE ALSO OFFER A SCHOLARSHIP FEE, WHICH IS $699.
FOR THE SIX WEEKS THAT OUR KIDS IN THE PROGRAM, IT WILL GO TO $720 FOR THE SIX WEEKS FEE.
AND THEN WE OFFER A MIDDLE SCHOOL, UH, SUMMER STEM CAMP PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE FULL FEE OF $881.
THAT PROGRAM FEE WILL GO TO $907.
AND THEN WE OFFER A, UH, A VACATION PROGRAM, THAT VACATION PROGRAM WHEN PARENTS WHEN KIDS ARE OUT OF SCHOOL.
UH, THAT FEE IS $313 FOR THE WEEK.
IT WILL GO TO $322 FOR THE VACATION TIME.
THAT'S THE PROPOSED FEES THAT WE'RE ASKING THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL TO CONSIDER.
WELL, I THINK THAT I WANT TO SAY, ON BEHALF OF ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES, THANK YOU TO YOU.
UH, MOST PEOPLE KNOW THAT FRANK WILLIAMS HAS BEEN THE CHAIR OF OUR YOUTH BUREAU FOR, I BELIEVE IT'S 39 YEARS.
I HAD THE HONOR OF BEING THE CHAIR OF THE YOUTH BUREAU FOR FOUR AND A HALF YEARS.
AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO.
AND AS JEREMIAH FRYE PEARSON SAID THE YOUTH BUREAU IS THE SECRET SAUCE TO OUR CITY.
AND AS FRANK WILLIAMS SAID, IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD THESE FEES IN THESE PROGRAMS, THEY DON'T TURN ANYONE AWAY.
THAT'S A VERY SPECIAL AND UNIQUE THING IN OUR CITY, AND WE'RE GRATEFUL TO FRANK AND TO EVERYONE ON THE COUNCIL AND TO EVERYONE IN OUR CITY FOR MAKING SURE THAT KIDS AND PARENTS AND FAMILIES HAVE THE PROGRAMS THAT THEY NEED AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY NEED.
MAYOR, IF I COULD ADD ONE THING, ONE OF THE WE'RE PROPOSING A 3% FEE BECAUSE ONE, WE'RE TRYING TO RETAIN STAFF.
AS YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE'RE FACING WITH OUR STAFF IS THAT IT'S COMPETING WAGES WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
SO THESE INCREASE IN FEES WILL HELP US TO PROVIDE A LITTLE MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR STAFF TO WORK AND STAY IN OUR AFTER SCHOOL AND BEFORE SCHOOL PROGRAM.
AND WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.
ITEM 21 IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS, ESTABLISHING AND APPROVING A FEE SCHEDULE FOR
[Items 21 - 22]
VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND CAMPS ORGANIZED AND OPERATED BY THE YOUTH BUREAU FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 THROUGH 2027.I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO OFFER THE ORDINANCE.
[00:35:01]
UNANIMOUS CONSENT IS GRANTED.I MOVE ADOPTION OF THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE.
MADAM CLERK, CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE.
YES, MR. CARUSO EMPHATICALLY YES.
OKAY, THE LAST ITEM AND THANK YOU.
WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO CLAP, BUT IT'S OKAY.
[56. Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains supporting immigrants and denouncing the current tactics of Federal Law Enforcement, including United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and urging the State and Federal Governments to pass laws prohibiting law enforcement officials from concealing their identities.]
IT'S IT'S FOR THE YOUTH BUREAU AND FRANK WILLIAMS. I MEAN, THEY DESERVE OUR CHEER AND ENCOURAGEMENT EVERY DAY.NOW, THIS IS ACTUALLY A VERY SERIOUS AND OUT OF CHARACTER THING RIGHT NOW.
THE LAST ITEM ON OUR DISCUSSION AGENDA IS ITEM 56.
IT'S A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS, SUPPORTING IMMIGRANTS AND DENOUNCING THE CURRENT TACTICS OF FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT ICE, AND URGING THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS TO PASS LAWS PROHIBITING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS FROM CONCEALING THEIR IDENTITIES.
THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT WE'RE HAVING IN OUR CITY AND IN OUR COUNTRY, AND I THINK THAT WE FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND BASICALLY TELLING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT THEY NEED TO NOT CONCEAL THE IDENTITIES OF THEIR AGENTS, AND THAT MANY MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE AFRAID, I'M GOING TO BACK CLEAN UP AND SPEAK A BIT MORE AFTER I GIVE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY ANYTHING.
SO I ASSUME THAT EVERYONE WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.
I GUESS I WILL BEGIN WITH MR. WOLF.
I HAVE BEEN VERY INVOLVED DURING MY ADULT LIFETIME AT EL CENTRO HISPANO AND WORKED IN MANY OF THEIR PROGRAMS IN THE FOOD DISTRIBUTION.
AND I HAVE SEEN THE CHANGE IN THE DEMEANOR OF OUR CONSTITUENTS AND THE PROBLEMS THAT THEY'VE HAD AND THE FEAR THAT THEY BEAR COMING TO VARIOUS PROGRAMS. AND I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH THAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO BLOCK THIS AND CREATE AN ORDINANCE, AND MAYBE EVEN GO FURTHER IN THE FUTURE.
I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR BRINGING THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION BEFORE US, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING IT.
I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER EVELYN SANTIAGO, WHO'S SHOWN TREMENDOUS LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE.
THANKS ALSO TO ALL THE ADVOCATES IN OUR CITY WHO'VE PUSHED FOR THE COUNCIL TO TAKE THIS STEP, INCLUDING THE FOLKS WHO SPOKE HERE TONIGHT AND ESPECIALLY TO BEN LAVENDER, DYLAN BAY, AND THE WORKING PEOPLE OF SEIU 32.
THE EXCESSES THAT ICE IS COMMITTED UNDER DONALD TRUMP ARE IMMORAL AND IN SOME CASES, CRIMINAL.
EVERYONE WITH A SCREEN SAW ICE KILL ALEX PERETTI AND RENEE.
GOOD, BUT THOSE AREN'T THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO'VE LOST THEIR LIVES.
TO GIVE ANOTHER, LESS FAMOUS EXAMPLE.
LAST MONTH I SAY ICE SEIZED NARELLE AMIN SHAH, A MENTALLY DISABLED AND NEARLY BLIND 56 YEAR OLD WHO WAS LEGALLY IN THE COUNTRY.
ICE HAD NO LEGAL GROUNDS TO HOLD MR. SHAH, BUT INSTEAD OF CONTACTING HIS FAMILY, THEY RELEASED HIM ALONE, DROPPING HIM OFF FIVE MILES FROM HIS HOME IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK.
THEY LEFT HIM WEARING HIS DETENTION CENTER UNIFORM WITH JUST SOCKS AND SLIPPERS ON HIS FEET.
MR. SHAH THEN FROZE TO DEATH IN THE BUFFALO COLD.
THERE WAS NO FILM OF THIS KILLING, AND THE VICTIM ISN'T WHITE, SO YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE HEARD ABOUT IT, BUT THE KILLING OF MR. SHAH IS JUST AS IMMORAL.
AT LEAST 37 HUMAN BEINGS HAVE DIED IN ICE CUSTODY SINCE DONALD TRUMP TOOK OFFICE IN JANUARY OF 2025.
THAT IS FAR MORE PEOPLE THAN DIED IN ICE CUSTODY DURING JOE BIDEN'S ENTIRE PRESIDENCY.
WE CONDEMN AGENTS WEARING MASKS AND KIDNAPPING CHILDREN.
WE CONDEMN OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING GIANT CONCENTRATION CAMP SYSTEMS. WE CONDEMN THE HATEFUL RHETORIC AND THE FEARMONGERING AND THE SCAPEGOATING AGAINST OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.
NOW, I'M NOT OPPOSED TO ALL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.
IT MAKES GOOD SENSE TO HAVE IMMIGRATION AGENTS PROTECTING OUR BORDERS.
IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO HAVE POORLY TRAINED PEOPLE IN MASKS, CONDUCTING MILITARY OPERATIONS AND MASS ROUNDUPS INSIDE OUR COUNTRY.
I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ICE AND MASKS IN FUNCTIONING DEMOCRACIES.
LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOWS THEIR FACES, EXCEPT IN RARE CIRCUMSTANCES.
OUR POLICE IN WHITE PLAINS WHO ARE HEROES, SOME OF WHOM ARE HERE TONIGHT.
THEY SHOW THEIR FACES PRIOR TO 2025.
ICE OFFICERS SHOWED THEIR FACES, ON THE OTHER HAND.
FASCIST GOVERNMENTS OFTEN HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT COVERS THEIR FACE.
THE EAST GERMAN SECRET POLICE WERE NOTORIOUS FOR WEARING MASKS.
[00:40:02]
KLANSMEN WEAR MASKS.AND IN THE US, STARTING IN 2025, ICE AGENTS WEAR MASKS.
THIS RESOLUTION THAT WE PASSED TODAY IS AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP.
ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD BE PUBLIC SERVANTS AND ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD SHOW THEIR FACES, AND I AGREE.
I URGE THE HIGHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENTS TO ACT.
BUT RESPECTFULLY, I DON'T THINK THIS FIRST STEP IS ENOUGH.
WE CAN GO FURTHER TO PROTECT OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY AND TO DEFEND THE RULE OF LAW IN OUR CITY.
I ASKED MY COLLEAGUES IN THE COUNCIL, ULTIMATELY TO PASS AN ORDINANCE MAKING IT UNLAWFUL FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO WEAR MASKS IN WHITE PLAINS, EXCEPT IN CERTAIN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES, AND MAKING IT UNLAWFUL FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT'S TO CONCEAL THEIR IDENTITY EXCEPT WHEN THEY'RE UNDERCOVER.
NOW, THIS LAW WOULDN'T APPLY JUST TO ICE.
IT WILL APPLY TO ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT.
MAYOR BRASCH AND OUR CORPORATION COUNSEL WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE, AND THEY ARE RIGHT TO DO SO, BECAUSE EVERY MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL SWORE TO UPHOLD THE WHITE PLAINS CITY CHARTER, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE US CONSTITUTION.
WE ONLY PASSED LAWS THAT ABIDE BY THOSE DOCUMENTS.
SO IT'S RIGHT TO TAKE OUR TIME AND MAKE SURE WE ACT CORRECTLY IF WE PASS AN ANTI-MASK ORDINANCE.
BUT THE CONSTITUTION DOES ALLOW US TO PASS AN ANTI-MASK ORDINANCE.
HERE IN WHITE PLAINS, THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS ROUTINELY PASSES ORDINANCES THAT APPLY TO ALL PEOPLE IN OUR CITY, INCLUDING FEDERAL OFFICERS.
WE CAN DO SO WITH RESPECT TO MASKING, AND I HOPE WE DO IT SOON.
ONCE AGAIN, I THANK THE MAYOR AND I THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR TAKING THIS IMPORTANT STEP TODAY.
I'M PROUD TO VOTE FOR THIS RESOLUTION, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER WITH ALL OF YOU TO DO EVEN MORE TO PROTECT OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY FROM AGENTS WEARING MASKS.
COUNCIL MEMBER EVELYN SANTIAGO.
THANK YOU TO MY COMMON COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND IN PARTICULAR, COUNCILMAN JEREMIAH FRYE PEARSON.
HE HAS EXPRESSED A LOT OF WHAT WE ARE ALL THINKING RIGHT NOW.
WE AS A COUNTRY ARE FACING A MULTIFACETED CRISIS, INCLUDING ONE OF CONSTITUTIONALITY AND ONE OF MORALITY.
SOME PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY BELIEVE THAT IT IS BEST NOT TO RESPOND AT ALL TO THIS CRISIS, BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS NO LONGER AN OPTION.
IF WE DO NOTHING, WE ARE MAKING A STATEMENT.
THAT STATEMENT IS THAT WE ACCEPT WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR IMMIGRANT BROTHERS AND SISTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND TO THOSE WHO WOULD SPEAK UP, INCLUDING THOSE WHO ARE EXPRESSING THEIR CONSTITUTIONALLY GUARANTEED RIGHT TO PROTEST.
I HAVE BEEN SPEAKING TO SEVERAL CONSTITUENTS FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS.
EVEN AMONG THOSE MOST DIEHARD SUPPORTERS FOR THE REMOVAL OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.
NO ONE WANTS TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED IN MINNEAPOLIS, AT OUR DOORSTEP IN WHITE PLAINS, OR ANYWHERE ELSE IN AMERICA, FOR THAT MATTER.
WE CERTAINLY CAN DO BETTER, AND WE MUST.
THOSE SAME PEOPLE WOULD ALSO AGREE THAT MOST IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE BEEN VIOLENTLY CAPTURED AND DETAINED DO NOT MEET THE TEST OF CRIMINALITY, CRIMINALITY THAT THEY ORIGINALLY THOUGHT WOULD BE THE STANDARD.
CRIMINALITY NOW INCLUDES PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING AS IMMIGRANTS WAITING IN COURT TO PROCESS THEIR PAPERWORK AND BEING WHISKED AWAY TO DETENTION.
CRIMINALITY NOW INCLUDES PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO WORK VERY HARD ARE LAW ABIDING MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL AND GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IN THE FORM OF LABOR AND TAXES PAID.
BOTH OF WHICH INVIGORATE OUR ECONOMY.
FORTUNATELY, WE KNOW THAT MOST PEOPLE DO NOT AGREE WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING IN AMERICA.
MANY STATE AND LOCAL BODIES ARE ACTIVELY PREPARING LEGISLATION TO PROTECT OUR VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE THE AMERICAN PUBLIC DOES NOT AGREE WITH THE VIOLENT AND TERRIFYING TACTICS USED AGAINST HUMAN BEINGS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND THIS IS BEING EXPRESSED IN THE LOW APPROVAL RATING OF THIS ADMINISTRATION.
IN CLOSING, I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE JEREMIAH FRY PEARSON WHEN HE SAYS WE NEED TO PUT THE WORDS OF THIS RESOLUTION INTO ACTION BY PASSING AN ORDINANCE.
COUNCIL MEMBER SIMMONS, DO YOU WANT TO? UM, YES.
I APPRECIATE THE WORDS THAT WERE JUST, UM, EXPRESSED BY COUNCILMAN JEREMIAH FRYE PEARSON AND, UH, COUNCILWOMAN SANTIAGO.
AND I APPRECIATE WHEN RESIDENTS WERE HERE AT THE LAST SESSION
[00:45:04]
FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION.AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE WITH THAT.
AND WE JUST MUST CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR SOMETHING STRONGER BY WAY OF AN ORDINANCE.
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL.
MISTER COUNCILMAN CARUSO, SIR.
UM, I CAN'T SAY THINGS BETTER THAN COUNCILMAN PEARSON AND COUNCILMAN SANTIAGO ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
ONE THING I WILL GIVE YOU IS A NUMBER 73%.
73%. ACCORDING TO THE CATO INSTITUTE, AN EXTREME RIGHT WING THINK TANK IS THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DETAINED BY ICE, WHO HAVE COMMITTED ABSOLUTELY NO CRIME, HAVE NO CRIMINAL HISTORY, DON'T EVEN HAVE A PARKING VIOLATION.
ACCORDING TO THE CATO INDUSTRY INSTITUTE, AGAIN AN EXTREME RIGHT WING THINK TANK, ROUGHLY 7% OF THE PEOPLE DETAINED BY ICE ARE ACTUAL CRIMINALS.
I THINK THOSE NUMBERS SPEAK VOLUMES.
UM, IT I THINK WE HAVE TO BE AWARE OF THAT.
AND I FULLY SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION.
I SUPPORT THE IDEA OF PERHAPS SOMETHING A LITTLE STRONGER, AN ORDINANCE, AS HAS BEEN SUGGESTED GOING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE AFTER IT'S BEEN THOUGHT THROUGH AND EVERYTHING'S BEEN ARRANGED.
I THINK THE POINT OF ALL THIS IS LESS IMMIGRATION AND MORE TERROR.
AND I KNOW, I KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE UNITED STATES CITIZENS WHO ARE FRIGHTENED.
UM, I HAVE A COLLEAGUE WHO IS A DREAMER WHO, THANKS TO MILITARY SERVICE, BECAME A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES.
SHE'S SCARED TO BE OUT AND ABOUT BECAUSE SHE'S A MEXICAN AMERICAN.
AND JUST BECAUSE OF THAT, SHE'S TERROR HAS COME INTO HER LIFE.
TERROR IS COMING TO OUR COUNTRY.
AND I THINK EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO STOP IT, WE MUST.
WHAT I WANT TO ADDRESS IS THE CURRENT UNDERLYING CONTEMPT FOR IMMIGRANTS, WHICH IS SHOCKING AND ALSO WILDLY IRRATIONAL.
IF YOU'RE NOT A NATIVE AMERICAN, YOU ARE DESCENDED FROM IMMIGRANTS.
THIS IS A NATION OF IMMIGRANTS.
WE ARE STRONGER FOR OUR HISTORY OF IMMIGRATION.
THERE HAS ALSO BEEN TIMES IN HISTORY WHEN THAT HAS BEEN SUPPRESSED, AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE LIVING THROUGH ANOTHER WAVE OF THAT.
MY FATHER'S FATHER BECAME A CITIZEN BY SERVING IN WORLD WAR ONE.
AFTER THE FAMILY OF SEVEN BROTHERS AND A SISTER AND THE PARENTS CAME OVER IN TWO WAVES, WALKING ACROSS LARGE SWATHS OF BELARUS TO GET TO SOME BOAT SOMEWHERE AND GET HERE AND ESCAPE THE TERRORS OF THE OLD COUNTRY.
I CAN'T BELIEVE WE ARE GOING THROUGH THIS AGAIN.
WE MUST DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO CHANGE.
CHANGE THIS TERRIBLE SITUATION.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION.
YOU KNOW, WE WANT AND FELT IT WAS NECESSARY TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT FOR OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND STATE THAT WE ARE OPPOSED TO THE CURRENT TACTICS OF ICE, WEARING MASKS AND SCARING PEOPLE.
AND THEN IN THE CASE OF SOME PEOPLE, SOME PEOPLE HAVE EVEN BEEN MURDERED OR ASSAULTED.
THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR.
LIKE EVERYONE ELSE HERE, MY FAMILY WERE NOT NATIVE AMERICANS.
MY GRANDPARENTS WERE IMMIGRANTS.
NO DIFFERENT THAN THE IMMIGRANTS IN OUR CITY TODAY.
HARDWORKING PEOPLE WHO WORK CONTRIBUTE TO OUR SOCIETY.
JUST WANT THE FREEDOMS AND RIGHTS THAT WE HAVE AS AMERICANS.
TO JOIN OUR LOVELY AMERICAN DIVERSE FAMILY.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, THEY'RE FILLED WITH FEAR AND INTIMIDATION.
AND THAT'S TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.
THE THING THAT WE CAN DO, AND THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS CLEARLY, IS TO MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD.
ICE AGENTS SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CONCEAL THEIR IDENTITY.
THEY SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO WEAR MASKS.
THEY SHOULD WEAR CLEAR, VISIBLE IDENTIFICATION.
[00:50:02]
JUST LIKE THE POLICE OFFICERS IN OUR CITY.AND WE WANT TO BE CLEAR TO EVERYBODY HERE.
WE ARE NOT AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WE LOVE, RESPECT AND CHERISH LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND WE ARE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL, IN PARTICULAR TO THE WHITE PLAINS POLICE FORCE FOR ALL THAT THEY DO TO PROTECT US AND TO HELP US ON A DAILY BASIS.
BUT SOMETHING HAS GONE TERRIBLY WRONG.
AND I'LL TELL YOU THAT I STUDENTS IN OUR CITY WERE MARCHING THE OTHER DAY AGAINST ICE AND AGAINST THE TACTICS.
AND AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, I LOVE TO GO TO THINGS AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO I COULDN'T GO THERE IN MY OFFICIAL CAPACITY, BUT I MADE SURE TO SEE WHAT THEY WERE DOING, AND I WAS ALMOST BROUGHT TO TEARS.
I SAW A SIGN BY A YOUNG WOMAN, A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, AND IT SAID NO DIFFERENT THAN MY GRANDPARENTS AND HOW EVERYONE ELSE GOT HERE.
THESE PEOPLE JUST WANT TO JOIN OUR SOCIETY, JUST LIKE OUR FAMILIES DID.
AND THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT THE TACTICS THAT ARE GOING ON TO SCARE PEOPLE, TO HURT PEOPLE, TO WRONGFULLY IMPRISON PEOPLE ARE WRONG.
AND THAT CERTAINLY THESE TACTICS OF WEARING MASKS AND CONCEALING THEIR IDENTITY IS NOT THE AMERICAN WAY.
AND WE DON'T WANT TO ACCEPT IT AND WE WANT TO BE ON RECORD FOR THAT.
SO I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR SUPPORT.
WE'RE GOING TO SEE IF WE CAN DO MORE.
AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD AND WE WILL.
AND EVERYONE SHOULD BE REST ASSURED THAT WE WILL DO ALL THAT WE CAN DO TO PROTECT OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE THEY ARE OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AND THEY ARE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, NOT NOT OTHERS.
MR. MAYOR, I, I MOVE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED.
THANK YOU EVERYONE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.