Re-elect Ben Boykin

Thanks to the voters of White Plains for giving me the opportunity to continue to serve you on the Common Council. This was a victory for all the people of White Plains. It was a very sweet victory for me as I was the target of attack by a small group at the debates and forums. The people have spoken and I am pleased to continue my service to you.

The unoffical results (as of Wednesday morning, November 7) are:

Augie Zicca 1,748
Anthony Pilla 1,415
Cass Cibelli 1,802
Ben Boykin 3,984
Dennis Power 4,218
Milagros Lecuona 3,428
Candyce Corcoran 407
Robert Stackpole 1,373
Robert Levine 937

The Journal News, on October 31, 2007, endorsed my re-election to the White Plains Common Council. The Journal News, in its Editorial, stated that:

“Boykin, president of a financial planning and consulting firm, has been a member of council since 2000, and before that he was a school board member. He has been in on the ground floor of the city’s economic revival and shares credit for the sometimes tough decisions that have paved the way for current success. Running with Independence and Working Families support as well, Boykin can point to a long list of achievements that have benefitted neighborhoods, the needy and others in White Plains who are not millionaires.”

The Journal News also endorsed two other candidates, including a running mate, Dennis Power.

I was honored by the Dr. Barry Yearwood Scholarship Committee on Thursday, October 25, 2007, with a Community Award.

I accepted this honor stating that it has been a priviledge and honor to serve this community as a Councilman and a member of the School Board.

The Dr. Barry Yearwood Scholarship honored four young African American men who meet the standards for academic strength, leadership, motivation and school/community participation.

I was introduced by my youngest daugther Nicole Boykin. Nicole has just completed her Masters Degree in Pyschology at NYU and is now working on her doctorate at Yeshiva University.

In my acceptance, I also charged the young men to treat education as a lifelong journey, set high standards and surround themselves with others that will be a positive influence on their lives.

This was the 14th Annual Scholarship Program held at Westchester Hills Golf Club in White Plains.

The White Plains Times has asked that candidates respond to three questions. My responses are provided below.

Councilman BEN BOYKIN
White Plains Times Candidate Questions

Brief Bio
Common Council Member since 2000; Common Council President 2002-2003; Chairman, Budget & Management Advisory Committee; School Board Member 1992-1999; Financial Executive and Business Owner; Certified Public Accountant;
B. S. in Accounting, University of North Carolina, Phi Beta Kappa graduate; MBA with Honors, Kellogg Business School; Married with two daughters.

Endorsements
• White Plains Democratic Party
• Working Families Party
• Independence Party
• Westchester/Putnam Central Labor Body AFL-CIO
• Black Democrats of Westchester County
• White Plains Professional Firefighters Association
• White Plains Uniformed Retired Firefighters
• Westchester Hispanic Law Enforcement Association

Website: www.VoteBoykin.com

Question #1
Traffic and vehicular congestion is on the rise in White Plains, both in the downtown and on the access roads entering the city. What would you do to alleviate this problem?

A downtown trolley system will remove some cars from our streets and provide a quick and easy way to enjoy our city by walking and/or by riding. A downtown trolley system will help make downtown White Plains a unique and special place to live, work and enjoy.

I am an advocate for better utilization of our existing assets. The TransCenter parking structure is nearly empty at night and on weekends. To remove some traffic from our downtown, I recommend charging a small fixed price to park (for example, $1.50 for six hours) starting at 6:00pm on the weekdays and on weekends. The downtown trolley would run on a frequent schedule from the TransCenter to designated downtown locations to transport individuals.

A better coordination of the timing of traffic lights on major roads into and out of the city will help to reduce traffic congestion.

A light rail or rapid transit bus system must be implemented as part of the Tappan Zee Bridge Project to reduce regional traffic coming into White Plains.

Bike racks should be installed at convenient locations to provide safe places to encourage individuals to ride their bicycles into downtown.

The 287 construction has contributed to traffic in some of our areas which should abate once the project is completed.

Question #2
As White Plains becomes more urbanized, quality of life issues in the diverse neighborhoods are changing. Should the issue of at-large representation by Common Council members versus district-based representation be revisited? Why or Why not?

No. We are a small city of ten square miles with an estimated population of 56,000 by year end 2007, a 5.5% increase from the 53,077 in the 2000 Census.

At-large representation has served this city very well. Most of the issues in our city affect all neighborhoods. As your Councilman, I am always accessible to listen and to work with residents to resolve issues and improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods and the city. I meet with residents one-on-one, in group settings, at neighborhood association meetings and at community functions. In addition, I communicate with residents via telephone, email, websites and faxes.

I represent the interests of all the residents in White Plains. I will continue to serve you and allocate resources based on city needs. District representation could lead to inefficient use of resources based on personal agendas.

Question #3
As White Plains continues to grow, the challenges faced by the city are becoming more complex. Has the job of being a Common Council member become more than part-time? Why or Why not?

As your Councilman, my legislative position is more than part-time. I have a passion for serving and helping our residents. I invest a significant amount of time to analyze the issues, to listen to all points of view and to work to enhance our quality of life. I spend many hours a week on city business and constituent issues. I attend numerous events in the city because it is my duty as your elected Councilman to be visible and available to serve you. As Chairman of the Budget & Management Advisory Committee, I am using my financial expertise to save our taxpayers money and to keep our property taxes low.

We must have an open government that is responsive and that works to achieve the best results for our residents. I want to continue working for you. At this critical time for White Plains’ future, I believe that my experienced leadership is an extremely valuable asset for our community. This election is about managing our future and developing our vision working together.

The Journal News has requested that candidates running for office in the November 6, 2007 general election respond to four questions. I have responded as an incumbent running for re-election to the White Plains Common Council on November. My responses are below.

Name: Benjamin Boykin II

Address: 78 Midchester Avenue
White Plains, NY 10606

Telephones: (914) 328-7808
(914) 830-9678 (cell)

email: benboy78@aol.com

website: http://www.voteboykin.com/

Office sought: White Plains Common Council

Incumbent: Yes

Candidate Questions

(1) Please tell us why are your running for office or seeking re-election?

It has been an honor and a privilege, since 2000, to serve as a White Plains Councilman. Prior to my election to the Common Council, I served seven years as a member of the White Plains School Board. I have an outstanding record of working hard to enhance the quality of life for all residents in White Plains, and a passion for serving and helping people.

Since my election to the Common Council, White Plains has experienced an historic renaissance. With my experienced leadership, the Common Council has: Reinvested in downtown to stabilize the tax base and keep property taxes low, protected neighborhoods from commerical creep and demanded that all housing meet strict building codes, created new and preserved affordable housing, acquired 45 acres of open space, supported public safety initiatives that enhance our security, and developed a vibrant downtown.

While we have achieved much during my two terms on the Council, I want to continue working for the residents of White Plains to stabilize our tax base, protect the charm and character of our neighborhoods, increase our affordable housing stock, acquire more open space including open green space in downtown and have a government that communicates openly and is willing to work to achieve the best results for our residents. At this critical time for White Plains’ future, I believe my experienced leadership on the Common Council is an extremely valuable asset for our community.

(2) What in your personal, civic or professional experience recommends your election or return to office?

I have a passion for serving and helping people. I am a business owner and financial executive with over 25 years of educational and governmental experience. I have been involved in my community in many leadership capacities. I was unanimously selected by my colleagues to serve as Common Council President from 2002-2003. I am currently Chairman of the City’s Budget and Management Advisory Committee, where I am using my financial expertise to save taxpayers money and keep our property taxes low.

My experienced leadership in our community include:
- Common Council member since 2000
- Common Council President 2002-2003
- Chairman, Budget & Management Advisory Committee
- Vice President, White Plains School Board 1998-1999
- Member, White Plains School Board 1992-1999
- Board of Directors, White Plains Outdoor Arts Festival
- Board of Directors, White Plains Meals of Wheels
- Past Treasurer, Lois Bronz Children’s Center
- Member, Union Baptist Church
- Member, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity

My professional and educational experience include:
- Certified Public Accountant
- President, Ben Boykin & Associates
- Former Assistant Treasurer, Nabisco, Inc.
- Former Trustee, Bennett College
- MBA with Honors, Kellogg Business School
- B. S. in Accounting, University of North Carolina, Phi Beta Kappa graduate

(3) Many voters are concerned about the “quality of life” in their communities - matters that might run the gamut from traffic woes to public safety concerns. If elected or returned to office, are there any specific policies or initiatives you would undertake as priorities?

There are many quality of life issues facing our community. Let me discuss three that I feel are critical in White Plains - enforcement of building codes and zoning ordinances, overcrowding, and workforce housing.

Enforcement of building codes and zoning ordinances

In the 2007/08 budget, the Common Council voted to hire a new building code officer to work during the late afternoons and at night. I fully supported this critical position to address isssues relating to illegal housing. In addition, the Common Council increased fines for landowners for violations.

Several years ago, the Safe Housing Task Foce was established to coordinate services of the building department, police department and fire department relating to housing issues. The process has been somewhat successful.

Illegal housing is both a safety and health issue. While we may suspect illegal occupancies from physical evidence outside, the City cannot obtain access to the properties without permission and or court orders. This is a very complex issue for which they are no simple or easy answers.

I will continue to advocate for higher fines for landowners that violate our building codes and zoning ordinances. Let’s hope that the courts will enforce the fines that we establish. If necessary, I will support additional personnel to enforce building codes and zoning ordinances.

Overcrowding

I believe that overcrowding, especially in our Close In neighborhoods, is a critical quality of life issue for this city.

The city has taken steps to address this very complex issue through the Safe Housing Task Force and the hiring of additional code enforcement officers.

The issue of overcrowding is both a health and safety concern. In addition, overcrowding burdens the city’s infrastructure and the school district. City and school district services are being utilized, in some cases, without appropriate payment for services.

I will continue to work with our city administation and neighborhoods to address overcrowding. We must keep pressure on the landowners to stop premitting an excessive number of individuals from residing in dwellings. However we must be very sensitive and careful in dealing with this difficult issue.

Workforce housing

I moved my family to White Plains because of the school system and the ethnic and economic diversity of this community.

A major issues facing this city and this region is workforce housing. White Plains needs moderately priced housing for a range of incomes. I support recently introduced Council legislation to increase the affordable housing set-aside to 10%, and double the developers’ alternative contribution to the Affordable Housing Fund.

The recently introduced legislation is under review by the appropriate departments. The Common Council will work to ensure program flexibility as the review process continues. I expect to approve revised legislation in the near future.

(4) Many family budgets in our communities are strained by high property taxes, chiefly the school-tax component. To what extend are your satified or dissatisfied with non-school government spending? How would your spending or taxing priorities differ from the status quo? Are there any specific changes you would seek to enact?

I realize that taxes are becoming a larger burden for many in our community. I believe that I have worked hard as a Councilperson and as Chairman of the City’s Budget and Management Advisory Committee, to provide excellent services to our residents with a reasonable increase in taxes. I have always been and will continue to be fiscally responsible to our taxpayers. I will make decisions and vote for the interest of our taxpayers to keep our property taxes as low as possible.

In White Plains, in order to stabilize our tax base and keep property taxes low, we are reinvesting in our downtown. White Plains has two main sources of revenue - property taxes and sales tax due to our large and growing commercial base. Given the unique situation in White Plains, the State equalization rate is hurting the city by shifting the tax burden from commercial properties to homeowners. Also, the State law afftecting the assessment of condos and co-ops has hurt our city. The assessment rolls are also being negatively impacted by successful tax certioraris challenges.

The city has recently passed Home Rule Legislation seeking to implement a Hotel Tax and the Common Council is considering raising the sales tax 1/2 of 1% to 8 3/8%, which is the same as the other large cities in Westchester County. The sales tax issue has been tabled pending receipt of and discussion of financial forecast information requested by Assemblyman Adam Bradley and the Common Council. As of October 5, 2007, the City Administration has not provided the requested financial forecast information.

I believe that spending priorities should provide services to our residents and visitors in an efficient and cost effective manner. We must work to stabilize our tax base, develop alternative revenue sources, and ensure that our city government is cost-effective.

Clearly, the unique issues in White Plains need to be addressed at the State level. We need to have legislation that taxes condos and co-ops more in line with single family homes (currently a new condo or co-op pays about 54% of the property taxes that would be paid by a homeowner for the same purchase price).

The State equalization rate, which currently has commercial and residential property in the same rate, needs to be changed to allow for separate rates for commercial and residential property. This change has been introduced in Albany without success to date.

The city must vigorously defend against tax certioraris so as to protect our tax base and to reduce the amount that has to be refunded to property owners. I will continue to support the city taking an aggressive posture on tax certioraris.

Councilman Ben Boykin, along with Councilman Dennis Power and Candidate Milagros Lecuona responded to campaign questions from the North Broadway Association. The responses were emailed to Don Hughes, President of the North Broadway Association, at 4:43 pm on Wednesday, October 10.

I have posted our responses below.

North Broadway Association Campaign Questions

Councilman BEN BOYKIN
Councilman DENNIS POWER
Candidate MILAGROS LECUONA

Joint Statement from BOYKIN, POWER, LECUONA

We are pleased to have participated in the CNA Candidates’ Debate on October 9th and look forward to continuing to develop our vision for White Plains with input from our citizens in the other organized candidates’ forums.

The North Broadway Association has requested that we provide comments on various issues. The issues that you raise affect all neighborhoods throughout our city. As Councilpersons and candidate for Council, we represent the interests of all the people of White Plains.

The answers to these questions reflect both individual and collaborative responses. The questions and answers have also been posted on www.VoteBoykin.com , www.dennispower.com and www.lecuonaforwhiteplains.com.

What is the most important action that you will take as a councilperson to ensure aggressive enforcement of building codes and zoning ordinances?

In the 2007/08 budget, the Common Council voted to hire a new building code officer to work during the late afternoons and at night. We fully supported this critical position to address issues relating to illegal housing. In addition, the Common Council increased fines for landowners for violations.

Several years ago, the Safe Housing Task Force was established to coordinate services of the building department, police department and fire department relating to housing issues. This process has been somewhat successful.

Illegal housing is a both a safety and health issue. While we may suspect illegal occupancies from physical evidence outside, the City cannot obtain access to the properties without permission and/or court orders. This is a very complex issue for which they are no simple or easy answers.

We will continue to advocate for higher fines for landowners that violate our building codes and zoning ordinances and continue to advocate for strong court enforcement of the fine system. We will continue to carefully monitor this problem that affects the quality of life in our neighborhoods and, if necessary, we will support additional personnel to enforce building codes and zoning ordinances violations.

There has been a significant increase in the Latino population of White Plains. Should the city make any changes to accommodate these residents?

We moved our families to White Plains because of the school system and the ethnic, cultural and economic diversity of this community; these factors continue to be key strengths of White Plains. White Plains has an well-known tradition of welcoming new residents and we intend to maintain that openness. We also realize that we are all immigrants except for the Native Americans.

Currently, the Latino population is the fasting growing group in White Plains and throughout the United States. The adjustment of immigrants to the society is a temporary event. The next generation not only will speak English fluently, but will understand cultural differences and that is the beginning of a positive immigration experience. That is why White Pains has become a city enriched by different cultural communities living in harmony.

The City is in the service business and provides important services to all residents. For example, our Service Officer spends a lot of time working with the Latino population. El Centro Hispano, Inc., is one of the nonprofits which are funded in part through Community Development Block Grants [federal monies] that provides many programs and services for the Latino population. Our White Plains Public School System has a widely acclaimed Newcomer Center to address numerous cultural and linguistic needs of parents and children where English is a Second Language.

The City government hosts numerous events and activities to address the needs of our diverse community – Latino plays at the White Plains Performing Arts Center, St. Patrick Day Parade, Juneteenth Parade, Columbus Day Parade, Hispanic Day Parade, various events in our parks and Renaissance Fountain, after school programs at many of our schools and activities at the Thomas H. Slater Center. These are only some of the programs and services for citizens.

As elected officials we will carefully monitor measures taken to enhance services provided while also looking to maintain the quality of life for all residents of White Plains.

Should White Plains hire an outside consultant to perform a staffing study?

The City’s Budget and Management Advisory Committee, chaired by Councilman Ben Boykin, has recommended a staffing study in its report to the Common Council for the last two years.

From the Report of the Budget and Management Advisory Committee, issued in May 2007, the following is recommended under Departmental Studies:

“While many cost-cutting measures have already been adopted in the normal course of preparing this budget from the departmental level upwards, a more formal review of current programs and their respective priorities should be undertaken.

Recognizing that salary and related benefit costs comprise 73% of the City’s operating budget, the Committee recommends that the City begin conducting studies in conjunction with the appropriate department heads, to review departmental staffing and organization as appropriate. The initial focus of these studies should be of the three largest departments which contain nearly eighty percent of the City’s workforce.”

We support the recommendation of departmental studies as recommended by the Budget and Management Advisory Committee. The Common Council will continue to discuss implementation of these specific recommendations with the Mayor. At this point, it is not anticipated that an outside consultant would be required to conduct staffing studies.

What specific actions will you take as a councilperson to ensure increased public input in city decisions?

Councilman Ben Boykin

As your Councilman, I am always accessible to discuss issues relating to the city. I meet with residents one-on-one, in group settings, at neighborhood association meetings and at community functions. In addition, I communicate with our citizens via telephone, email, websites and faxes. I am visible and available to listen to your issues and work together to improve the quality of life for all of us.

I believe that important decisions that shape the future of White Plains must be made out in the open, with public having every opportunity to participate before major decisions are made. As you know, I, along with Councilman Power, Councilman Malmud and Councilman Roach, helped to defeat the effort to grant a developer and “exclusivity agreement” for development at the White Plains train station before any public discussion of the proposal.

Moving forward, I will continue to seek citizen input to shape our vision for White Plains. This will be done through public hearings, meetings with neighborhood associations, meetings with individuals and groups, position papers and through technology including interactive internet.

The Citizens to Be Heard meeting, held prior to the start of the Common Council meetings, was started under my leadership as Council President. I support televising Work Sessions, Board and Commission Meetings. In addition, I strongly believe that we must make better use of technology at the Common Council meetings including interactive internet.

Councilman Dennis Power

I have strongly advocated for increased involvement of the public in city meetings and discussions. I will work with my Council colleagues to ensure that all meetings of the Common Council are held in Council Chambers, including Work Sessions and Special Meetings that have been mostly conducted in the Mayor’s Chambers. This will convey a clear message that the public involvement is important and welcomed. I will work to require that all Special Meetings involving voting matters are televised. I will also work to ensure that all major meetings of boards and commissions are taped for cable television viewing.

Technological, audio-visual improvements are needed for Council Chambers to accommodate increased televising and to enhance presentations for public viewing. Proper, timely notice of meetings of the Council, boards and commissions and the posting of agendas on the city’s website is also critical to citizen input.

Bringing ‘City Hall to Main Street’ is an important step in bolstering public input in decisions; I believe that more meetings held out in the neighborhoods will improve citizen participation.

Candidate Milagros Lecuona

I will work with my Council colleagues to ensure that all meetings of the Common Council including Work Sessions and Special Meetings are televised. The City website will have agendas and minutes from these important public sessions.

All commissions and public boards will place their agendas and minutes on the website and sessions will be televised, and tapes will be available to the residents. Maps and other graphic documents presented during public hearings will be scanned and placed on the City website for general information. Developer’s proposed design models and presentations will be put in digital format and placed in the City website.

No approval for major projects should be given without resident’s knowledge and participation on the approval process. White Plains belongs to its residents and we residents together decide what we want for our City. Without the appropriate information resident’s opinion can be manipulated, not necessarily in the best interest of White Plains. It is very important in this historic moment of White Plains that the residents are well informed in all our City government issues.

Give two advantages and two disadvantages to raising the sales tax by ½% to a combined rate of 8 3/8%.

Advantages:

• May shift some of the tax burden from property owners to purchasers of goods and services in White Plains. However, sales tax affects both residents and nonresidents;
• May help to close budget gap; Council Members have not been provided with requested financial projections to know size of future gap.

Disadvantages:

• Regressive tax; adversely affects low income individuals and individuals on fixed income;
• Impact on residents for large ticket items, i.e., automobile purchase, home improvement materials;
• Loss of competitive shopping edge with other cities in Westchester County and may result in fewer shoppers coming to White Plains.

What do you feel is currently the most important quality of life issue in White Plains?

Councilman Ben Boykin and Councilman Dennis Power

We believe that overcrowding, especially in our Close In neighborhoods, is a critical quality of life issue for this City.

The City has taken steps to address this very complex issue through the Safe Housing Task Force and the hiring of additional code enforcement officers.

We will continue to work with the city administration and our neighborhoods to address overcrowding. We must keep pressure on the landowners to stop permitting an excessive number of individuals from residing in dwellings. However, we must proceed judiciously in dealing with this complicated issue.

Candidate Milagros Lecuona

I feel that the most important quality of life issue in White Plains is the increase in building density or occupancy throughout the city causing overcrowding in some areas, traffic congestion, and other infrastructure abuses.

Required building occupancies are not enforced especially in our Close In neighborhoods, creating overcrowded situations which are both a safety and a health issue.
Mc Mansions with inappropriate density and height are being built throughout White Plains residential areas affecting the neighborhood character.

While all this is happening we lose almost inadvertently the green open space from our City.

Discuss one of the other important issues facing our neighborhoods that you plan to address as a councilperson.

Councilman Ben Boykin and Councilman Dennis Power

A major issue facing this city and this region is the lack of workforce housing. A key strength of White Plains is its ethnic and economic diversity. White Plains needs moderately priced housing for a range of income to maintain a diverse balance of housing levels in our city. We supported recently introduced Council legislation to increase the affordable housing set-aside to 10%, almost doubling the developers’ alternative contribution to the Affordable Housing Fund.

The recently introduced legislation to enhance the Affordable Ownership and Rental Housing Program while maintaining current zoning is under review by the appropriate departments. The Common Council will work to ensure program flexibility as the review process continues. Increasing the stock of affordable housing, while supporting and preserving the integrity of neighborhoods, are goals shared by the entire Council. Involving neighborhoods and community organizations in the discussion is critical to the success of the program.

Candidate Milagros Lecuona

White Plains needs moderately priced housing to keep our senior residents with fixed income as well as our workforce living in the City. I am planning to strongly address this issue as a councilperson.

We have to protect the character and safety of our neighborhoods. I want to carefully monitor measures taken to avoid the construction of Mc Mansions and the subdivision of lots that change the density of our neighborhoods.

I want to address the importance and the advantages of current incentive programs and life cycle cost benefits of green buildings available for residential purposes and work with the City residents in their implementation.

In a team sweep, the Real Democrats with a Real Vision for White Plains won the Democratic Primary on Tuesday, September 18. I let the ticket with 1,638 votes. With 41 out of 43 Districts reporting, the vote tally was

Milagros Lecuona 1,340
Candyce Corcoran 694
Arnie Bernstein 986
Benjamin Boykin 1,638
Dennis Power 1,602

In speaking about our victory, I said that “This was a real victory of the real Democrats of White Plains. We’re going to continue to move forward with our vision for White Plains, such as balanced growth, open government, integrity, looking for open space, keeping property taxes low.”

This was a great victory for all the residents of our city. I will continue to work to enhance the quality of life for all our residents.

I will continue to work hard for victory on November 6, 2007.

Thank you for your help in winning this victory. I ask for you continued support and vote on November 6, 2007.

The following op ed article was released to The Journal News and the White Plains Times on Wednesday, September 5, 2007.

OP ED ARTICLE: REJECTION OF TRAIN PLAZA RFQ

At the June 10, 2007 Common Council Meeting, Louis Cappelli, in recognition of the stated opposition of the Council majority, withdrew his request for an exclusive right to redevelop City-owned land at the White Plains train station.

We, the undersigned Council Members, opposed the exclusivity agreement for a number of reasons. By agreeing to limit potential suitors for the site for a lengthy time,
market forces would be eliminated resulting in a reduced return for the City, both financially and in terms of the nature and quality of the development. By opening the process to other developers and obtaining citizen input for our hometown vision, we can encourage ideas more in keeping with our current infrastructure and the nearby residential neighborhoods and the Bronx River parkland.

We were stunned when at the conclusion of the August 23 Council Work Session we were presented with a “Request for Qualifications” (RFQ) for redevelopment of the train station area. This document is essentially the rejected exclusivity agreement in new clothing. Boykin, Power, Roach, and Malmud (the only four Council Members present at the meeting with the Mayor) were neither consulted nor asked for input. In fact, the item was not even listed on the agenda. A brief inquiry that night resulted in our being informed that the RFQ would be distributed immediately.

The Mayor’s blueprint for the process of redeveloping the area at the train station is flawed in a number of respects. Under the Mayor’s proposal, the City would commit to a developer without consideration of any actual plan. Under the terms of the Mayor’s proposal, any City official would be prohibited from even discussing alternative proposals with interested parties. This restrictive approach, while clearly favorable to the selected developer, removes much of the City’s leverage in controlling what is developed at the site and works against achieving an optimum result for our residents. The RFQ does not even require a proposed land sale price. By entering into this process, we would be waiving our right to compare competing proposals to ensure that the project selected is the best possible. Let us focus instead on the needs of our City rather than a developer’s demands.

It is not in anyone’s interest to embark on a lengthy process which will cause individuals and the City to expend money and time if there is no hope that a satisfactory conclusion will be reached. We therefore publicly and unequivocally state our opposition to this process. We serve notice that we do not support the RFQ recently released by the Mayor’s office through the Commissioner of Planning and will avail ourselves of all measures at our disposal to bring this ill-considered proposal to a quick end.

The land we are discussing, some of the most valuable real estate in the metropolitan area, is currently owned by the people of the City of White Plains. The decision on how or whether the land should be further developed must be considered from the perspective of their benefit alone. There is no urgency on the part of the City, and allowing others to create a false sense of urgency does not serve our interests. A careful and reasoned approach, with input from our residents is what is required. The RFQ process unilaterally put in place by the Mayor does not serve that purpose.

Respectfully submitted.

__________________________ _________________________
Rita Malmud, Council President Benjamin Boykin, Councilman

__________________________ __________________________
Dennis Power, Councilman Thomas Roach, Councilman

The Westchester County Press has endorsed my re-election bid in the Democratic Primary on September 18 and the general election on November 6.

Mr. Paul Redd, Publisher has broken with tradition and provided his endorsements for the Democratic Primary. Mr. Redd stated that “I think I will break the tradition this year because I feel it is very important that you, the voter, know the facts and that we vote for the best candidates.”

In endorsing my re-election, Mr. Redd said “In White Plains Councilman Ben Boykin is running for re-election and doesn’t appear to be in any trouble, but in all these races, we have to pull out the maximum number of voters, because in the final analysis, EVERY VOTE DOES COUNT.”

The full endorsements include:

Ben Boykin, Re-election to Council Council in White Plains
Janet Jordan, Westchester County Family Court
Serahper Conn-Halevi, County Legislator in the 13th District
Mayor Ernest D. Davis, Re-election for Mayor of Mount Vernon
Alfreda Williams, Re-election to Town Clerk in Greenburgh
Eddie Mae Barnes, Re-election for Town Clerk in Greenburgh

I am pleased to have the endorsement of the County Press. My name will appear on the ballot as Benjamin Boykin II.

Boykin Sworn in for Third Term and Elected Council President

Boykin Wins Third Term on Common Council as Democrats Sweep

Boykin Endorsed by The Journal News

Boykin Receives Community Award

Boykin Responds to White Plains Times Candidate Questions

Boykin Responds to The Journal News Candidate Questions

Boykin, Power, Lecuona Respond to North Broadway Association Questions

Boykin, Power & Lecuona Win Democratic Primary

Boykin, Power, Malmud and Roach Reject Request for Qualifications

Ben Boykin Endorsed by County Press

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