White Plains CitizeNetReporter - Mrs. White Plains Considers a Run for King’s Seat

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS CONFIDENTIAL. By John F. Bailey. March 5, 2003: Former Councilwoman Pauline Oliva told WPCNR she would “give up retirement to help” if asked to run for the White Plains Common Council seat this fall. The Democrat slate is in need of a third spear carrier to replace Councilman William King who in a surprise announcement leaked exclusively to The Journal News and The White Plains Watch said he would not run again on the Democratic Ticket. Mr. King gave as his reasons he could not work with his Democratic colleagues.

THE PAULINE OLIVA COMEBACK: Mrs. Oliva, former councilwoman addressing the Common Council Monday evening.
Photo by WPCNR News

The first indication that something was up was the appearance of Mrs. Oliva, greeted with open arms by former Democrat colleagues, Rita Malmud, Robert Greer, and Benjamin Boykin, Jr. at the first opportunity they had. It was like a “welcome back.”

Pauline Oliva has been getting up to speed on Council doings, attending the droning and dragging Council meeting, Monday evening, to comment strongly in support of the Council vote to expand the Shapham Place parking with a double-deck extension behind the Rader’s-Dunkin Donut Strip at Bryant Avenue and Mamaroneck Avenue. Oliva went to great lengths to discredit the previously proposed overnight on-street parking proposal advanced by Mr. King and rejected by the council.

Speaking to WPCNR today, Ms. Oliva commented on the state of the city: “The die was cast long ago that White Plains is a major city. You have to have development and if you develop it carefully, I think we have, the development will work. I voted on many of these projects that I think were right. I strongly supported open space acquisition initiatives, and I still do.”

Even before WPCNR had thought of the question, Mrs. Oliva spoke up for development: “Once you see these projects which I voted for on line, and the taxes are kept low, those people who are against it will see its value.” Councilman Robert Greer told WPCNR Monday evening after the council had amended the Cappelli-Bland Hotel resolution to extend the scooping session three weeks that there were a couple of calls to him expressing concern about development. Mrs. Malmud had offered the amendment saying that 4 days (March 13-17) was not enough time for the public to comment on what the city’s very famous consultants, Arnold & Porter, and two nationally known urban design and transportation exports would consider.

Mrs. Oliva said in addressing the council that “she was glad to be back on this side of the fence.”

Taking time out from making h’ors d’oeuvres for the Womens Club of White Plains meeting, Oliva told WPCNR she did not miss the council, but “I would be willing to sacrifice retirement to help (run for council


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