Don't build it for us, build it with us
We are dedicated to promoting transparency and accountability while opposing a paternalistic government that thinks it knows better than the people that live and work here.
Afterall, we elect representatives, not rulers.
ENACT | Our Core Values
We are dedicated to building a more equitable and transparent White Plains through civic engagement and accountability.
We strive to ensure that all residents of White Plains have equal access to resources and opportunities.
Equity
We operate without bias, focusing on facts and the public interest to serve all community members.
Nonpartisanship
We hold local officials to the highest standards of transparency and responsibility for public funds.
Accountability
We empower residents to be active participants in the democratic process and local decision-making.
Civic Participation
We believe that open access to information is the cornerstone of a healthy and informed community.
Transparency
Board of Directors
Gary O'Brien, Esq. is a commercial real estate executive and attorney with over 25 years of experience leading complex transactions, portfolio strategy, and asset optimization for global organizations. Known for combining legal rigor with business leadership, he is a trusted partner to executive leadership who aligns real estate strategy with enterprise objectives to drive cost savings and long-term portfolio value.
Most recently, Gary served as Head of Real Estate for SIEMENS Mobility, Inc. in New York, where he built and directed the corporate real estate function for a multi-billion-dollar enterprise across the Americas. In this role, he designed, developed, and built modern logistics warehouses and production factories.
Previously Gary was Vice President and Senior Legal Counsel at SIEMENS Corporation, where he streamlined and modernized a 25-million-square-foot portfolio across more than 600 properties. During that time, he executed complex transactions, generated over $30 million in cost savings, and monetized non-core real estate assets to unlock hundreds of millions in capital.
In the advisory and public sectors, Gary has delivered cost efficiencies and operational improvements for high-profile stakeholders. At CBRE’s Global Workplace Solutions, he advised Fortune 500 clients, including BASF, on portfolio strategy, acquisitions, dispositions, and workplace optimization.
Prior to that, as General Counsel, Senior Vice President, and Secretary for the Hudson River Park Trust, Gary led all legal functions for a major public waterfront development. He oversaw the legal strategy for prominent projects such as Little Island and established robust governance, procurement, and risk management frameworks to strengthen compliance and operational integrity.
Admitted to the Bar in New York and New Jersey, Gary earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from New York Law School. He holds a Graduate Certificate in Commercial Real Estate Analysis from MIT and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science from SUNY Old Westbury.
Yvonne Gumowitz, a native of Germany, moved to the United States in 1980.
Tired of the heat and large insects in Florida she decided to escape to southern California where she studied urban planning and environmental science at UCLA. This led to an interest in walkable neighborhoods, adaptive reuse of existing buildings and land-use policies that balance growth with conservation.
Her current passion is fighting for a displacement-free future for White Plains residents and their environment.
Ben Brown, Esq. grew up in Mount Pleasant and moved to White Plains in 2018. A member of the millennial generation, he is a graduate of New College of Florida and the University of Michigan Law School.
His legal career in the New York City suburbs began in a nonprofit organization providing general, civil legal services, and then transitioned into a private practice representing
K-12 and college students in special education, general education law, and civil rights matters.
His history of civic involvement includes serving as student body president when in college, serving as the chair of a UAW bargaining unit while working at a nonprofit organization, and serving as the chair of the New College Alumni Association from 2023–2025.
Ben enjoys hiking in our area's many nature preserves, science fiction, and the study of American history.
Join the CAWS Today
Add your voice to the effort for a more open, fair, and accountable White Plains—and help our community flourish.
CAWS membership is only $25 per year. Your dues fund our research and advocacy for effective government in White Plains.
To become a member, complete the Membership Form below. Unless you are an elected or appointed official or are otherwise ineligible under our bylaws, your application will be approved, and you will receive a welcome letter with a link to pay your first-year dues.
Members who have paid their dues gain exclusive access to our research and will receive our newsletter and event invitations.
Thank you. Borrowing from the U.S. Army slogan, join us in helping White Plains “Be All It Can Be”!
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