WPCNR MR. & MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. September 12, 2006: An observer and critic of the downtown ambience in White Plains, files this report about the police presence Saturday, September 9:

I've written a few times concerning the lack of security in the downtown and just want to report what I saw this past Saturday night.

Apparently the Mayor, Police and Mr. Cappelli monitor your site. I spent 4 hours strolling the downtown from Starbucks to Mamaroneck Ave... all the way to the Fire House and back from 8pm to almost midnight. There were police EVERYWHERE. Numerous police cars (marked and unmarked) constantly driving up and down Mamaroneck Ave. There were also MANY police walking the beat... usually in pairs... mostly within a 2 block radius of City Center. Quite a few sirens could be heard Saturday night. There were also a number of City Center security people standing in front of the main City Center Entrance keeping the sidewalk clear most of the time.

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First a word about this City's finest: White Plains Police Officers are the most professional I've ever encountered. They strolled the streets keeping gangs of teenagers from congregating for too long in any one place and at no time were they rude or overpowering. They did their job... and did it well and I'd like to thank them for it. I don't think they get enough thanks to be honest.

As for the "trouble makers" downtown. Most seemed to be young African-American teenage males. I actually followed some of them... I tried to hang out around them and try to get their perspective on things. This is what I experienced:

I listened to them and can tell you that the three groups I encountered were probably not from White Plains. I overheard some talking and they did not know the names of any of the streets downtown... including the one they were STANDING ON. One teen asked another if he knew how to get back to the train.

We also overheard a couple complaining about the Police saying "my friend was arrested last night down here.. that's bull-xxxx". They then saw a tall Aftrican-American Police offcer approaching and one teen said "I know him.. that's xxxxxxx.... he's cool... he'll let us hang". The group approached him.. he was very professional and greeted them but quickly explained they could NOT BLOCK THE SIDEWALK... and they moved on without a complaint. Unfortunately, most of these kids simply moved down Martine towards The Galleria where they blocked sidewalk traffic again... older people and families were crossing the street to avoid them.

Most disturbing were two teens... from one of those same groups... who both had what they claimed were pit bulls. They were unlicensed (no tags) but were on chains. They didn't do much to control the animals although they were calm. They did, however, move both dogs across the street from City Center and were actually encouraging them to fight which is when I said "ok... lets go".

I made a point of telling most of the officers that passed me.... along with the City Center Sercurity folks... that I appreciated them being there.

City Center is where these kids hang out... if you walk 2 blocks down Mamaroneck, there's no sign of them as there is nothing to do down there (they're too young to drink) and I'm sure the Restaurant owners would have a fit.

It appeared to me... and this is only my opinion.. that the Police and City Center Security had their hands full Saturday night. The Police were busy from the time I got there until the time I left so there should be NO QUESTION by ANYONE that the testimonials posted here were right on target and NOT THE EXCEPTION as some have suggested.

As for the "lack of complaints"... I suspect most patrons of City Center simply go back their cars and go home... the ones that DO venture out probably don't come back if they encounter the teens I saw Saturday night... particularly if they have children. The folks I saw with kids on Mamaroneck were clearly uneasy when passing the teens.... particularly the groups with the dogs.

I hope the security we saw Saturday will be the norm downtown. My fear is that it was a one-time thing because Mr. Cappelli indicated he would be in the area checking things out. I personally loved seeing the police downtown and again, to the White Plains Police Department: THANK YOU!!!!!  KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!!! WE WANT YOU THERE!!!!

THE WHITE PLAINS CitizeNetReporter CLARIFIES: WPCNR interviewed Rick Ammirato, the Executive Director of the Downtown Business Improvement District last week on his reaction to the letterwriter and other writers complaining about the atmosphere downtown. Mr. Ammirato said  that approximately two weeks ago, a week prior to BrendaL's letter to WPCNR on White Plains weekend downtown security issues, the BID held a meeting with police and City Center officials airing concerns about the security issues in the downtown and what could be done. Mr. Ammirato acknowledged to WPCNR that the issue of congregating unruly young persons was a concern at that time. Mr. Ammirato indicated the BID and the Police were aware of it before the recent flurry of eyewitness accounts to WPCNR. Mr. Ammirato said he was drafting a response on behalf of the BID on security issues last Friday, however WPCNR has yet to receive that statement from Mr. Ammirato. WPCNR had postponed reporting this information expecting Mr. Ammirato's statement from the BID, which we had expected would have contained this information.