Dear Readers:
When I wrote my first column(In the NCN) on the upcoming County budget, I received a phone call from one of our Legislators complaining that I was off base. First he told me the County was not the number one highest taxed in America but it was third (hooray). Still nothing to be proud of. He had me thisclose to believing he was trying to tighten the budget. God, am I a fool. After reading the article below, I now know this not to be true. After just granting themselves raises and staff increases recently, they wish to do this. Every candidate for County Legislator ran on a platform of fiscal responsibility. To even propose this new raise puts the lie to that platform. They knew the pay scale when they ran. If it was not enough they should have stayed in the private sector. If they find it offensive by what I am writing then the can consider that I am offended!!!!
I guess it is costly to find new ways to separate us from our money and remove choices from our lives. Last year they added 70 people to the county payroll, this year they wish to add 77 more. Ladies and gentlemen we are being taken for a ride. On Monday 12/10/07 they will vote on this. Lots of notice they have given us. This is not what we voted for. Even though this is not much notice, if you read this before the vote, e-mail Mike Kaplowitz (kaplowitz1@earthlink.net), George Oros (geooros@aol.com) , Bill Burton ( bill.burton@burtonandcompanyllc.com) and Bill Ryan (wjr1@westchestergov.com) and tell them this will not stand.
THIS WAS IN THE JOURNAL NEWS:
Legislators take up budget package that includes raises for board leaders
By JORGE FITZ-GIBBON AND LEN MANIACETHE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: December 9, 2007)
WHITE PLAINS - Westchester County legislators will begin deliberating tomorrow on a budget package that includes thousands of dollars in raises for county board leaders.
The budget debate comes after a week of criticism over the lack of detail in the board's proposal - details revealed Friday to include more than $200,000 in stipends for board committee chairs, which would nearly doubling the stipend for county board Chairman William Ryan to $75,200.
That's on top of Ryan's base salary of $49,200 - for a total of $124,400 a year.
Ryan said his current total salary of $89,000 is not commensurate with the post's responsibilities and needs to move closer to that earned by the county executive. That position carries a $165,000 annual salary, which had been proposed to increase to $175,000, he said.
"The county executive and the county legislature are two co-equal branches of government. There's no reason why the leader of the legislature, who deals with the same problems and challenges, should be paid at only half the rate of the county executive," Ryan said. "It's a job that is full time and more."
Legislator Michael Kaplowitz, who chairs the board's budget committee, said he expected criticism over the raises.
"We understand that," Kaplowitz said. "From a timing standpoint, no one is trying to push anything through that isn't discussed and deliberated."
The budget proposal also calls for 3 percent raises for county commissioners and department heads. The raises, proposed by County Executive Andrew Spano, include increases of nearly 3 percent for Spano and County Clerk Timothy Idoni - but not until Jan. 1, 2010.
"It's deserved," said Susan Tolchin, chief adviser to the county executive. "It's in keeping with the rate of inflation."
The county board's compensation package was included in details provided by legislators Friday following a vote by the rules committee to recommend in favor of the spending package.
The League of Women Voters had criticized the Board of Legislators last week for releasing budget summary documents that lacked itemized listings and incomplete numbers.
Kaplowitz attributed that to a typographical error that was corrected with more detailed documents being provided Friday.
He added the new document corrected another error - the dollar figure for compensating board officers, which reflects increases for the coming year.
According to the package approved by the rules committee, Ryan, as board chair, gets the biggest raise by increasing his stipend from $40,000 in the current budget to $75,200 in the proposed 2008 county spending plan.
The base salary for the county's 17 legislators remains at $49,200.
Kaplowitz said the increase in the chairman's stipend reflects the board's belief that he deserves compensation for his efforts, in keeping with the higher salaries of the county executive, the county clerk and other top officials.
In other proposed changes, committee chairs will receive stipends of up to $7,000, up from the current $6,000 figure.
However, the chairs of the legislature's budget and legislation committees, receive higher compensation. Those posts now call for $9,000 stipends, a figure that would increase to $12,000 under the pending proposal.
Other bumps in stipends would include the board's vice chair, and majority and minority leaders, whose stipends would increase from $9,000 to $15,000.
Deliberations on the 2008 budget proposal begin tomorrow, when the full board of legislators could vote to approve the package.
Reach Jorge Fitz-Gibbon at jfitzgib@lohud.com or 914-694-5016.
A RELATED ARTICLE IN THE JOURNAL NEWS:
Dear Readers:
The following is another article realted to the budget vote with a comment by another reader of the Journal News. This was so good I wish that I wrote it.
THE ARTICLE AND COMMENT TO FOLLOW:
Westchester legislature release budget details, but questions remain
By GLENN BLAINTHE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: December 7, 2007)
WHITE PLAINS - Westchester lawmakers, responding to criticism, have released new details about their budget, but questions remained yesterday about how forthcoming they have been about the use of taxpayer dollars.
The Board of Legislators posted on its Web site additional information about its operations, including a mission statement, organizational chart and a tally of staff positions. The new information goes beyond what was included in the county's proposed 2008 budget documents.
"We wanted to boost the level of detail and provide it to the public prior to what is expected to be a vote on the budget next week," said Board Chairman William Ryan, D-White Plains, in a press release.
Yet the release and Ryan's explanation for why it was not originally included in the budget that was unveiled last month by County Executive Andrew Spano left critics dissatisfied.
Mary Beth Gose, president of the League of Women Voters of Westchester, acknowledged the board's efforts but also questioned the limited scope of the new information.
Gose pointed out that the tally of staff positions contains only the current roster and what is projected for 2008. It does not go back to the 2006 budget, when the legislature had a much smaller staff.
"I think they should be accountable because there has been a lot of changes in the staffing," Gose said. "They should provide an accounting for all three years."
It was criticism from Gose and the League of Women Voters that first sparked the board to release the new information. In a statement made public Monday, league officials criticized the legislature for not being "transparent" in its spending because it failed to provide such information as the number of people it employs and the amount of money it spends on salaries.
Ryan, when told of the league's criticism, stressed that the county budget documents were prepared by the Spano administration and that he too was not satisfied with the level of detail.
"After reviewing the county executive's proposed budget for 2008, the legislators determined that they wanted it to reflect greater detail about our operations," Ryan said in the press release issued late Wednesday.
Ryan's explanation irritated Spano administration officials, who argued that they simply printed the budget information given to them by the legislature.
"The Board of Legislators is a separate branch of government," said Deputy County Executive Larry Schwartz. "We recognize and respect that. When it comes time to preparing and submitting the county budget, all we do is follow the board's instructions and directions as to what to include."
A check of previous county budgets indicated that until 2006, the budget documents contained detailed information about the board's spending, including staff counts, mission statements and salary expenses. Starting with the 2006 budget - the first one drafted during Ryan's tenure as chairman - much of that information disappeared.
"That was Bill Ryan's request," said former Westchester Budget Director Kathleen Carrano, who has since retired and is living in Florida. "He was doing a restructuring of the board, and he didn't want titles or numbers of positions in there to limit his flexibility."
Reached on his cell phone yesterday, Ryan continued to insist that the board provided more information to the Spano administration than was printed in the budget documents.
He blamed "mechanics within the Department of the Budget" for the omissions.
Ryan also said lawmakers, in their new release of information, decided to only include the current and projected 2008 staff rosters because the legislature was reorganized early this year, making comparisons difficult.
"The spreadsheet was so large that we just said, 'Everybody knows that we just went through this major reorganization, and everybody knows that the staffing level jumped up,' " said Ryan, acknowledging the board added 17 new staffers earlier this year.
The squabble over the legislature's spending comes as lawmakers head toward final approval Monday of Westchester's 2008 budget. Yesterday, Minority Leader George Oros, R-Cortlandt, proposed cutting $16 million in spending from the $1.78 billion fiscal plan that Spano proposed.
Oros said much of the cuts would come from eliminating 28 positions that are either vacant or were set to be added to the payroll under Spano's budget.
If approved, the cuts would reduce the proposed increase in the property-tax levy to 1.4 percent from the 4.7 percent figure called for in Spano's budget.
Democratic lawmakers, however, have said they are looking to make only about $8 million in cuts before the vote to adopt a budget on Monday.
Reach Glenn Blain at gblain@lohud.com
COMMENT FROM READER...I WISH I WROTE THIS:
This is our county legislature hard at work. Exacting every last possible dime from your pockets for programs designed to crown yet more cronies or to respond to some perceived social injustice by a handful of noisy misfits hell-bent on making all of society pay for their personal uncommfortableness. We get mobile shredders plying the neighbors...for what? And why? Someones's "good" idea is the perfect example of government folly. And a personal insult to the people who must finance such a ridiculous idea. Theis is but a singular example...nor is it the most egregious. We have a gay liason director to the tune of $72,000 plus benefits...why? Why is such a group so entitled to singular financing and demanding of approval from the rest of us? Differences are a fact of life. County government does not exist to blur such human distinctions. A "liason" is an individual whose public crowning is the end result of public crowing by a minute group of noisy, ever-wounded souls who fanciy themselves and their societal situation as uniquely special...which they are not. Why this rush to slam shut the Indian Point plant that provides us with the needed energy to power large portions of the county in an environmentally safe fashion...and doing so with nary a thought of replacement capacities? Perhaps this "issue de jeur"...like so many other imaginative creations...is the result of another handful of wierdly wired activists determined to corral us in line and tattoo us all as ill-informed asses who are quite incapable of seeing their so-called reality. Why was the recent budget proposal so opaque? I thought government operated in the full sunlight of the citizenry? The canopy erected by the county leadership is a woeful attempt to prevent legitimate scrutiny of government policies and actions. Apparently, citizens are NOT permitted to examine the machinations of warped, self-indulging, and condescending county leaders. The "We know best" attitude so prevalent in rhetoric and in action sugggests a genuine belief that the citizens of this county are hardly a force to be reckoned with. That is no longer the case. Westchester's dubious distinction as one of the highest taxed counties in the entire nation is an "award" we intend to shuck. So, it's time for a shake-down of a different sort. Those comfortable, easy-spending rogues who have nestled themselves and their sympathizers into a snug situation should be prepared for a new reality...of which they shall not be a part. Thanks for crossing the line so smuggly...you made that task that more immediate and deserved. And more energized.
Posted by: DenisIan on Fri Dec 07, 2007 8:54 am
MY COLUMNS ON THE COUNTY BUDGET:
IN MY OPINION :
After the election, buyer’s remorse
By Anthony Bazzo
The elections are over, our County Legislators are in session and our wallets and liberties are in jeopardy. Under discussion is the banning of trans-fats and calorie counts in restaurants, a 4.7% tax increase, 70 new staff positions in County Government, and $2 million to purchase rides at Playland, among other things. Remember, before any of the above came into play, we already had the privilege of being the highest taxed county in America. There oughta be a law. Instead, there are lawmakers in our County seat who can’t control spending -- except it’s our money they’re spending.
Less than three weeks past Election Day, I already have buyer’s remorse. Legislator Michael Kaplowitz, who heads the Budget Committee, said he will work hard to keep the tax increase below 4 percent. Legislator Kaplowitz was re-elected to do better than that. So far, only Legislator George Oros has it right, when he said: "My top concern is that we still have not taken any steps to look at eliminating overlap and duplication. The question becomes: Why are we even doing some of the things we are doing?” Of the 70 new staff positions proposed in Westchester County government, about one-third of them are for child care services while three are for County police.
Who are we hiring now? What are the other 45 new positions and why are they necessary? It would be wise for Legislator Kaplowitz to consider Legislator Oros's concerns before signing off on any new budget. Among reasons offered by County Executive Andy Spano as to why his budget includes a 4.7 percent tax increase is that sales tax revenue is $5 million below projections. I find it hard to believe that this discovery was only noticed now, and conveniently after the election. I believe the truth lies in the fact that nobody in County government wanted us to know this before the election. Hence, my pangs of buyer’s remorse. Why were the tax hike and the higher cost of child services not discussed before the elections? The local media fell on their collective swords in not pressing harder the sitting officials running for office on the upcoming budget prior to the election. This is not the first year this has happened. This must change!
Don’t tell me what to do! Finally, in regards to the behavioral policies proposed, the first duty of any government is the protection of its citizens. The intent behind writing this law was to protect us against outside forces and nefarious individuals among us. Now the government wants to protect us from ourselves. Personal responsibility has been substituted by government intrusion. Since the power to govern is by consent of the governed, when it comes to the government’s interference in my personal life, I do not consent! I have not now nor will I ever consent to a government whose duty is to save me from my weaknesses. We are responsible for our own actions and their consequences, good or bad. We do not need people, trying to justify their living on the taxpayer dole, to do this for us. This, too, must change.
This is my opinion, you may beg to differ.
THE SECOND COLUMN:
IN MY OPINION :
Mandate this: Halt the hypocrisy!
By Anthony Bazzo
“[Westchester County Executive Andy] Spano said that to ease the county tax burden, the county must work with the state to reduce unfunded mandates," wrote Sam Barron in last week’s North County News (“County blames weak sales revenue for proposed 4.7 % tax hike,” Nov. 21, page 11). What is an "unfunded mandate"? It is when a politician further up the electoral food chain – federal, state or county government -- decides that some cause du jour in your community needs to be addressed. One example is Westchester County’s bicycle helmet law, which was passed without any money in the budget to enable it. No problem. Taxpayers like you can be counted on to pay not only for the required helmet, but, through taxes, to also pay for the resources required to enforce the law.
First, the lawmakers will either pull at your heart strings or scare the beejeebies out of you to get your attention. Then they will tell you the remedy is money or regulation (which in the end costs money to enforce). They will then pass some feel-good law or regulation, say thank me very much (which you may choose to do by returning them to office). The hitch is that the cost of these measures is passed down that same food chain to your local officials to find the funding. By doing so, the blame goes to those public servants who must increase a tax, fee or surcharge to fund a mandate they may not even support, while the higher elected official takes the credit for caring. You the taxpayer, however, are stuck with the bill.
I've said it before and will say it again, "Hypocrisy, thy name is Westchester County government." At the same time we are told by our county executive that lawmakers must reduce unfunded mandates, didn’t he campaign for the same lawmakers who enact the unfunded mandates? Not to mention Westchester County itself keeps proposing unfunded mandates, such as the helmet law and ridiculous notion that fast food restaurants MUST list calories on a menu. Anybody who creates a situation and then complains about it reminds me of the person who murders his parents, only to beg for mercy on the grounds he is an orphan. Let us not let off the hook, either, local media that also complains about unfunded mandates, then come election season endorses those who enact them.
So now County Executive Spano says, "We must work with the state to reduce unfunded mandates." You don't work with those people, you campaign against them, like Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi did, successfully. You vow to not support any candidate who passes laws or regulations that increase the tax burden on the county you serve, party loyalty be damned. You do not reward officials who enact those mandates by endorsing or campaigning with them. To do anything less is hypocrisy, which unfortunately seems to be the name of the game with our incumbent County leadership. Lawmakers, listen closely: If you can't fund it (without increasing the cost to your residents), don't enact it. It is that simple. If you stop being a hypocrite, maybe the people will stop being so cynical.
This is my opinion, you may beg to differ.
A MESSAGE FROM COUNTY LEGISLATOR GEORGE OROS ON THE BUDGET:
George Oros
Legislator, 1st District
December 6, 2007 Contact: George Oros
Tel: (914) 995-2828
Taxpayers Must Be Told the Truth:
Minority Conference challenges County Executive and BOL to come clean on county budget and tax toll it has taken on property owners
The Minority Conference of the Board of Legislators issued a challenge to County Executive Andrew Spano and the Democratic majority of the Board of Legislators to level with taxpayers about the proposed budget and accompanying tax increases in recent years that have forced many residents to flee Westchester.
“Next week, the majority of the board seems satisfied with supporting a $1.78 billion spending plan that will raise taxes about four percent but we propose legitimate cuts that reduce the tax hike close to zero,” said Minority Leader George Oros (R/Cortlandt). “Contrary to what the majority maintains, increasing taxes above the cost of living and the Consumer Price Index is not reasonable or acceptable. It’s a slap in the face to hard working taxpayers who deserve better.”
In the past eight years county taxes have skyrocketed an unconscionable 54%. Holding a page from the Bureau of Labor Statistics website Oros showed that the Consumer Price Index for the New York City metropolitan region since 2000 had increased less than half the tax rate. Using his own real property tax bill, he illustrated that while county taxes may only be about 15% of a homeowners’ overall tax bill, the county levy of a homeowners’ municipal tax bill is well over 40% and has grown by 50%.
“It’s vital to educate the public of the adverse impact the county budget has on their way of life,” Oros said. “The legislature must get serious about eliminating duplication and overlap in county government, about halting an ever expanding bureaucracy so taxpayers can get relief.”
At the news conference Oros displayed a chart showing that the County workforce had increased by 318 since 2005, “an eight percent growth in plain old bureaucracy.”
“The tax burden can be cut,” Oros noted. As evidence he cited two of the communities he represents: Cortlandt which has averaged a zero increase the last ten years and Peekskill a zero the last three years.
“We have shown it can be done at the County as well,” he said. For the 2007 County budget the Republican minority proposed $20 million of spending cuts, including not funding 77 new unneeded jobs. For the last four years, the minority caucus has offered to work with a private/public partnership to identify areas of waste, duplication and overlap in county government. Similar to the state’s recent Berger Commission and the federal military base closing commission, this partnership’s recommendations would have to be accepted and enacted.
“Everybody seems to get it except this administration,” Oros said. He credited the Westchester County Association and Governor Spitzer for setting up working groups this past year on eliminating duplication and overlap of government programs and services.
“This is something our members first called for in 2003 and in 2008 we renew the call,” Oros proclaimed. “If the County Executive is unwilling, our Board should be willing to do it on our own.”
“We have been consistently offering real alternatives and an olive branch to work in a true bi-partisan manner to get taxes down,” Oros said.
The “counter proposed taxpayer friendly budget” as it was labeled is being presented four days before the scheduled Board vote on the budget “in order to increase the dialogue and see if in a bi-partisan fashion we can’t rescue the taxpayers.”
“The County Executive stated when he released the 2008 budget ‘no one wants to raise taxes’ our colleagues state they don’t want to raise taxes,” said Oros. “Well here is their chance to live up to their words.”
This year, among the cuts identified by the minority caucus that would bring the tax hike to about 1 percent, are: not filling any vacancies; and doing away with the Mounted Police and the Tax Commission.
Oros, who noted he was speaking on behalf of his Republican colleagues Sue Swanson, Ursula LaMotte, Jim Maisano, Gordon Burrows and Bernice Spreckman, said the Minority Conference was giving their colleagues sufficient time to study and digest its counter budget proposal prior to the board’s scheduled adoption of the budget on December 10.
“The time is long overdue for the county to level with taxpayers,” Oros said. “Somehow many of our municipal governments are able to function smoothly without raising taxes every year.”
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THIS WAS IN THE JOURNAL NEWS: MORE INTREUSION FROM THE COUNTY GOVT.:
County pushing recycling education and enforcement
By GREG CLARYTHE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: November 29, 2007)
YONKERS -Starting Feb. 1, Westchester homeowners are going to need see-through plastic garbage bags to take out their trash - or they're going to find it left on the curb.
County Executive Andrew Spano yesterday announced increased education efforts and enforcement of the county's recycling laws, including closer monitoring of what garbage haulers are delivering to the county's burn plant and an eventual refusal to accept anything that's on Westchester's list of recyclables.
"We've been proud of our record," Spano said yesterday inside the county's materials-recovery facility in Yonkers. "We're up to about 47 percent, which is ... pretty good. But if you compare it to places like California, which is 75 or 80 percent, we're not anywhere where we should be."
Spano said that when the mandatory source-separation law went into effect in 1992, Westchester was recycling only about 9 percent of its trash.
In the first eight years that the law was in effect, recycling rates grew to 42 percent.
Already some of the municipalities that have attended county workshops on the recycling law have been putting "OOPS!" stickers on individual trash cans that contain recyclables such as plastic milk containers, tin cans and glass bottles. The sticker lets residents know such trash won't be picked up after Feb. 1, 2008, and notes that more information is available at www.westchestergov.com/recycling or by calling the Recycling HelpLine at 914-813-5420.
Starting in January, the county will begin to accept recyclables from private haulers at the materials-recovery facility.
"Providing this option will not only be more convenient for private haulers, it will generate additional revenues to support the county's ongoing waste management and recycling initiatives," said Spano. "I am very pleased that private haulers as well as municipal officials are on board with this effort."
Many residents like Bob Walters of Yonkers long ago bought into the source-separation scheme. They may just need to tweak their trash routines to make sure they comply in the future.
"I use white plastic bags and a can to put my trash out now," Walters said yesterday. "I guess I'll have to invest in some clear plastic bags. It shouldn't be a problem."
Enforcement officials from the county's Solid Waste Commission and the Department of Environmental Facilities will be randomly checking everything from curbside pickup to loads traveling on Westchester roads.
Haulers, private or municipal, will need to be able to see trash through clear plastic to determine if there are recyclables incorrectly put out with the trash.
Individual fines can be assessed at $250 for a first offense, increasing for each infraction; and county officials are looking at updating those amount, which were set in 1992.
Spano said the extra work will necessitate two new positions in the environmental-facilities department, but didn't have estimated costs yesterday. The extra spending is expected to be made up with enforcement revenue, he said.
The county has already contacted 13,000 businesses as well as school districts, hospitals and municipalities about the increased enforcement.
Postcards with the same details that are on the "OOPS!" stickers will soon go out to every Westchester household.
"We really have to do this," Spano said yesterday. "It protects the environment and it also brings money into the county to make sure we can do more environmental projects."
Spano said Westchester villages and towns understand their roles and are ready to do their part to get more recyclables out of the waste stream.
County solid waste officials said already there has been an increase in materials coming to the recycling center, just since municipalities started educating their residents.
Spano knew better yesterday than to bore a class of Fox Meadow Elementary School second-graders with the legal side of recycling law, so he just listened as the youngsters shouted out what was recyclable and why saving natural resources was important.
"This is a smart group," Spano said of Kim Assatly and Mary Delnagro's students, some of nearly 5,000 kids and adults who visit the center on field trips annually.
Assatly said her own kids remember their visits to the center and what they learned about protecting the environment.
"We come every year," she said. "It helps them to understand why they need to recycle. They really can go home and explain why it's important."
Reach Greg Clary at 914-696-8566 or gclary@lohud.com.
MY COMMENTS ON THIS:
Dear Readers:
First we will now have the helmet police. Next we will have the Calorie police. We already have the smoking police. Now we are set to have the garbage police. Only government sactioned gargbage will be allowed. No wonder they want an increase in pay. It cost a lot of money to mind our business. The more they do the more I think it is time to disband County government. They have too much time on their hands. I think it is time for them to get a life and leave ours alone. Am I the only one who thinks they are going too far?
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THIS WAS ALSO IN THE JOURNAL NEWS: MORE ON COUNTY GOVT.:
Westchester government should take its health micromanagement act on the road
By Phil Reisman
(Original publication: December 2, 2007)
Eureka! I've got it!
I've finally discovered a worthwhile role for Westchester County government. We should ship the whole kit and caboodle to Memphis.
According to Forbes.com, Memphis ranks first on a list of the 20 most obese American cities. In Memphis, 34 percent of the people are considered overweight.
Some of that can be blamed on the great Southern fried food they eat there. Nothing like a pork chop. Pork chop, whoa - just say those deadly words in the Michaelian Office Building and the sprinkler system goes off.
County Executive Andy Spano and his posse of fat-busters on the Board of Legislators should take their anti-obesity act on the road. While they may be incompetent when it comes to cutting the fat off the supersized budget, they can't be beat when it comes to browbeating the blubber off their constituents.
They've sponsored "no junk food" weeks, held nutrition summits and banned trans fats. And now they're poised to pass a law that would require chain restaurants to list the calorie counts on every menu item.
Forget about the discriminatory aspect of the law. What's fascinating is the concept that anybody drooling for a Big Mac is going to carefully study the possible adverse effects such fare has on body mass index, and then, after seeing the light on their gluttonous ways, would say, "On second thought, I'll have a salad."
What will they think up next? Maybe they will come up with tofu subsidies for pre-K breakfast programs or ban doughnuts in county police cars. Or maybe they'll sanction hot dog-free zones. Don't be surprised if their quackery leads them to wage a campaign against the hazards of secondhand cholesterol.
These guys are relentless. We should send them to Memphis.
And then onto the second fattest city, Birmingham, Ala., where they can confiscate the Double-Stuff Oreos. After that, they can march on Atlanta, Detroit and Kansas City until they've conquered all the fat cities. They can just keeping going down America's great chow line, badgering people at every Wendy's, Taco Bell and Friendly's - and never come back.
You may have noticed that three local eating establishments have recently made headlines because they are going out of business - the Thruway Diner in New Rochelle, Nathan's in Yonkers and the first Carvel ice cream stand in Hartsdale. None of these favorite haunts are known for dispensing health food. I mean, talk about calorie count. Are you kidding me?
Not that the killjoy county had anything to do with their impending demise. But it's almost as if there is some kind of voodoo at work. Perhaps it is the subliminal power of the controlling "nanny state" that's slowly destroying those beloved emporiums of greasy bacon and eggs, syrup-soaked flapjacks and foot-longs smothered with mustard and sauerkraut and, of course, Fudgie the Whale.
Long live the food that is bad for us. Save the whales!
You must understand that the county has an underlying motive for dispensing a wide array of warnings, public service admonitions and behavior-control laws. It's to create an ideal citizen, one that is as soft and malleable as Silly Putty.
This person is thin because he doesn't eat trans fats, pale because he doesn't patronize tanning parlors and nervous because of the prospect of identity theft. He wears a bicycle helmet, too, even when he's not riding a bike.
And one more thing. He must be a Democrat, but only a Democrat who votes for Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Now, look. Does any of this mean that obesity in America shouldn't be taken seriously? The answer is absolutely and emphatically "No."
It is a major problem here and everywhere. There's no reason to disbelieve Dr. Joshua Lipsman, the county health commissioner, who cited an alarming study last week that showed that one in three Westchester schoolchildren in certain grades are either overweight or on the verge of becoming overweight.
If that's true, then action must be taken.
But just once, I'd like an elected official to take a bold stand on physical education in the schools. Fitness programs vary from district to district, and some of them, I suspect, are abysmal.
The ethos of what Teddy Roosevelt called the "strenuous life" should be instilled in the schools.
Gym should be given three times a week to children in all grades. No one should graduate with a high school diploma without meeting the minimum requirements of fitness. Those requirements should not be easy.
It's not about handing out volleyballs but about running and doing calisthenics. Bring back gym uniforms, push-ups, cold showers and nasty, snarling gym teachers with bad breath.
Replacing Fast Food Nation with Pantywaist Nation isn't the answer to better health - that's the county's way. They can take it to Memphis.
The answer is breaking a sweat.
Reach Phil Reisman at preisman@lohud.com or 914-694-5008.
Check out ww.lohud.com/reisman.
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A MESSAGE FROM DOMENIC VOLPE:
Bill Raymond of Frank and Lindy Plumbing and Heating and Domenic Volpe of Domenic's Cleaners have joined up with W.L.N.A.and Don Bennett to sponsor a coat drive for the Peekskill/ Cortlandt area. Benefactors of the clothing drive are-- Jan Peek Shelter, Peekskill CAP, Peekskill Area Health Center and the Salvation Army. Drop off sites for the clothing are-- Domenic's Cleaners in Peekskill, HyWay Cleaners on Westbrook Drive in Cortlandt and Village Cleaners in Montrose.
Call Domenic Volpe for any info to donate items at 914-737-9184
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THIS WAS IN THE NORTH COUNTY NEWS:
No tax increase for Peekskill, third year running
By Sam Barron
The Peekskill mayor presented Peekskill residents with what he hopes will be a nice gift for the holidays: a 2008 budget with a zero percent tax increase. This is the third year in a row that the city of Peekskill has not raised taxes in its budget, which passed 4-2 at the Peekskill Common Council meeting on Thursday, November 29. In order to achieve a zero percent increase, the Republicans on the Common Council voted to take more than $1 million from the $7 million in reserve, according to Deputy Mayor Cathy Pisani. The total operating expenditures for 2008 is $45.1 million.Mayor John Testa, Councilman Mel Bolden and Councilwoman Milagros Martinez, and Pisani, all Republicans, voted for the budget. Councilman Don Bennett and Councilwoman and mayor-elect Mary Foster, both Democrats, voted against the budget. Councilwoman Drew Claxton was not in attendance.The mayor decided to take an additional $500,000 from the fund balance to attain the zero percent tax increase. The city manager and comptroller, who crafted the budget, had already earmarked $500,000 to be taken from the fund balance. Peekskill’s tax assessment role was 3 percent less than what it was last year, which contributed to the need to dip into the fund balance. Peekskill Democrats opposed the budget because they did not think it was smart to dip into the fund balance, and were concerned that the city will not fill two vacant police positions. “It’s not a smart budget,” said Foster. “If we had done a 4.5 percent tax increase, we would’ve been able to keep the two cops and not strip reserves.”The budget does not add any new positions. The city transferred money budgeted for an administrative position in the Department of Public Works to a new labor position in the DPW. In addition to the two departing police officers, a vacant firefighter position will not be filled. Mayor Testa was proud of once again delivering a zero percent tax increase to residents.“We used additional fund balance funds,” said Testa. “We used tough economic and fiscally conservative policies.”“One reason we can post zero percent tax increases is because we've been so disciplined,” said Testa. “All by themselves, the benefits of strict discipline have produced enough financial rewards to help defray a several percent tax increase,” he says.Testa said that Peekskill’s recent increase in residential development allowed the city to have long term fiscal policy to keep taxes low. Testa said that not adding positions is part of that plan.The city currently has $6 million in the reserve fund and no longer borrows against anticipated tax revenues. The mayor expects the city will generate enough money to fill the $1 million taken from the reserve fund.With the Democrats set to take power, Testa said if the Democrats are smart, they can keep tax increases low. “Hopefully they will continue to keep taxes low,” said Testa. “They made quite a few promises; it’s up to them to decide how to pay for it.”Testa said one of the reasons he wanted to keep the tax increase to a minimum is because of rising county and school taxes and energy prices.Foster said she voted against the budget because she did not think it was right for the mayor to take from the fund balance after the Common Council passed a bill saying they couldn’t take more than 20 percent from the fund balance. Testa said that Foster has it wrong and that the fund balance policy is that the city is to have 20 percent in the designated fund balance, and what they did is not in violation.The resolution passed at the September 10, 2007 Common Council meeting states that 20 percent of operating expenditures must remain in the unreserved fund balance in the General Fund, excluding internal transfers to the Capital Fund and non-recurring extraordinary expenditures such as judgments or major repairs to the City’s infrastructure. Foster said that since Peekskill’s tax assessment role was 3 percent short then what it was last year, it would have been fiscally prudent to increase taxes. “When we have a zero percent tax increase, we’re decreasing our revenue by 3 percent,” said Foster. “Last year we collected $13.8 million. This year we collected a million less. What the mayor did was take that million out of the fund balance.”Foster believes that the mayor was not interested in good government, but in playing politics. The mayor-elect charged that the Mayor put forth a zero percent tax increase so that when she takes office, she will be forced to raise taxes and will look bad as a result.“Of course it was their strategy,” said Foster. “I have absolutely no doubt.”She said that in three to five years, the city will be burdened with having to pay the fund balance back. Testa accused Foster of being a flip-flopper when it comes to using the fund balance.“She’s changing her tune on the whole thing,” charged Testa. “She kept claiming we had too much fund balance. She’s flip-flopping before she even takes over as mayor.”Deputy Mayor Pisani disagreed with Foster that the city is reducing services, pointing out that they are adding a laborer to the Department of Public Works. “That position is one that is necessary,” said Pisani. “That will be a person that is on the job five days a week. We also laid off no one.”Pisani pointed out that the city still has $6 million in the reserve fund, and was able to eliminate $60,000 in consulting fees. “Mary Foster voted for a zero percent tax increase last year,” said Pisani. “You can’t double speak.”Councilman Bennett said he voted against the budget because it did not provide a replacement for positions in the fire department and police department.“They should’ve stayed in the budget,” said Bennett, who added that keeping those positions would have meant only a two to three percent tax increase. Testa defended the non-replacement of officers saying that the Peekskill Police force is still at its highest deployment, and it will not affect police services.
RELATED EDITORIAL FROM THE NCN:
To the victors go the... bombs?
We don’t believe it’s an accident that town and city officials do not vote on their municipality’s budget until after Election Day. We believe there’s a reason for it. This setup allows for two things: 1) Voters can’t hold their elected officials accountable for the budget they assemble until the following election cycle; 2) Those elected officials who did not win re-election in the recent election can plant bombs for their opponents who will take office in January.What do we mean by “plant bombs”? Well, if you’re the mayor or the supervisor, and you will be leaving office in January, what incentive do you have for putting forth a responsible budget? Oh, of course you may feel a civic obligation to do what’s best for the taxpayers. But why not have a little fun? Afterall, you and your comrades who are parting from your seats get to decide how much revenue the victors will have to work with. You set the table and walk away; you won’t have to eat, so who cares if there’s enough?So what are we talking about here? Peekskill just passed a budget with a zero percent increase. In order to do it, they used monies from the reserved fund and didn’t fill vacant positions, including two police officers.Now, if there’s anything we don’t need LESS of in Peekskill, it is police officers. Our men and women in blue do a great job and we need to maintain staffing levels in that department. We don’t suppose that was a shot at the new mayor, Mary Foster, who wanted to increase the number of officers when she took office? That will be tough to do when she’s starting out in January down two. It’s commendable to have a zero percent increase in taxes three years in a row. Certainly tax payers appreciate it. And Mayor John Testa is delivering on his promise. But the question is: at what cost? By not collecting any additional revenue at all—not even the cost of inflation—what sort of position is Peekskill going to be in next year, and the following one?To be fair, Peekskill has not cornered the market on this practice.
This sort of things happens all the time, everywhere.We believe that budgets should be passed by elected officials prior to Election Day, November 6. This would make our elected officials more accountable to voters. Unfortunately, state law does not require municipalities to pass their budgets until a month later. It’s no surprise that the laws are designed to benefit incumbents. We need our state representatives to champion this cause.
DEAR READERS:
You can read my comments on these in the next issue of the NCN on sale Wednesday 12/12/07
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A MESSAGE FROM PUTNAM COUNTY LEGISLATOR SAM OLIVERIO:
RE: CHARTER CHANGES FOR COUNTY GOVERNEMNT:
Hi Andy,
Thank you for asking about the charter changes. I always appreciate the opportunity to share my views on this type of governmental initiative with our constituency.I mostly agree with what Legislator Hay is putting forth. I do have a couple of reservations though. I agree that all of our Commissioners should only serve the County. They should not be allowed to work for any other agency or corporation while employed by the County. They are the leaders of their particular department and as such need to be fully engaged and focussed on that job. All other non-contractual employees though, should be allowed to try and enhance their salaries as best they can when they are off the job and on their own time. Putnam County is not the military. We do not own our employees 24/7. Our employees work very hard at what they do and though we pay a fairly equitable wage to our non-contractual staff, it is not compatible to the enhanced salaries our Commissioners make. Many of our non-contractual staff have a need for that extra cash-flow that a second job might bring after hours. Let's be fair, in my profession (education) many lower administrative members tutor or provide services on the side to increase their bill paying potential. I have never heard a Board of Education demand that their principals or assistant principals not be employed elsewhere at the end of the school day.My other disagreement with Tony's charter change is the requirement to have our Highway Commissioner be an engineer. This will drastically limit the pool of qualified candidates for the position (when it becomes available) and will also force the County to hire someone who is skilled in the engineering area but may not be skilled in leadership, knowledge of heavy equipment, budgeting, all aspects of construction and most importantly, people skills. I want a Highway Commissioner who can lead his department and can handle the day to day running of the department. We already have very qualified engineers on staff for our use. Myself, I want a proven leader who knows construction, not engineering. I do agree with all the other components of the charter changes.
Thanks Andy and keep the dialogue going.
Sam O.
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WHAT GOING ON AT SUSAN'S RESTAURANT ON N. DIVISION STREET:
Susan's Restaurant 12 North Division Street, Peekskill, NY 10566 (914) 737-6624
http://www.blogger.com/
Great Music, Great Food, Great People " Where you want to be"
Monday December 10th Gregg Westhoff's Westchester Swing Band
Don't forget to make your reservations early for Christmas Eve, New year's Eve and New Year's Day Brunch.
Mondays - Seafood Night 3 Course Seafood Menu $25
Tuesdays - Prime Rib Dinner $19.95 Classical Guitar with Tom Goslin
Wednesdays - Jazz Jam Hosted by Bob Meyer 8:30 PM *** Prix Fixe Dinner Available $25 With Wine $35***
Thursdays - Open Mic with Leah Quinn 8:00 PM Half Priced Bottles of Wine
Sundays - Jazz Brunch with John Basile and Mike Goetz http://www.blogger.com/
Late Night Menu until 12:00 Midnight Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
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THIS WEEKS "IN MY OPINION COLUMN" IN THE NCN:
Dear Readers:
This week I discuss the griches who wish to take away Christmas. You can read my column on this topic exclusively on line(see link below)and in this weeks NORTH COUNTY NEWS on sale now. I am worth the seventy-five cents. Look for my column IN MY OPINION(page 10) in the editorial section. Better yet as this column is exclusive to the North County News on a regular basis and will be covering the local political scene, take out a subscription. Click on the North County News link below and go to Subscribe. Between this blog and The North County News you will have all the information to make a vote based on substance.
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FYI:
ATOM TAXI INC. AIRPORT SERVICE:
Dear Readers:
This gives me a chance to plug my business ATOM TAXI INC. As you are planning your holiday travel, instead of the headache of trying to find Airport parking, we do Airport Service to The Westchester County Airport(and ALL other airports) 24/7. Just call 1(914)879-6121 and my partner Tommy, will be glad to take you in our Airport Taxi. You will also be provided with a free copy of your local paper of record The North County News. If this is a business trip we also provide a professional receipt, just tell Tommy at the time of booking. The cost of a one-way trip to the Westchester County Airport is seventy dollars. To LaGuardia Airport the cost is Ninety-four dollars which includes all tolls. The cost to JFK and Newark Airports is one hundred-twenty-five dollars which also includes all tolls. We do not take credit cards, sorry.
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E-MAIL ME WITH YOUR COMMENTS:
Dear Readers:
It has come to my attention the difficulty in posting a comment on this blog. If you wish to comment, e-mail me at the link posted below, putting "Manifesto Reader" in the subject matter, and I will "cut and Paste" your comments myself. If you DO NOT wish your comments posted, but just wish to communicate with me, please make your wishes known in the e-mail.
LINKS: atom_taxi@yahoo.com(as this a yahoo address make sure you put an underscore (-) between atom and taxi)
For immediate reply: atomtaxi@aol.com
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SITES TO LINK TO:
YORKTOWN COUNCILMAN NICK BIANCO: http://www.electbianco.com/
PLAN PUTNAM: planputnam@googlegroups.com/
PEEKSKILL GUARDIAN: http://peekskillguardian.blogspot.com/
NORTH COUNTY NEWS: http://northcountynews.com/
THE JOURNAL NEWS: http://thejournalnews.com/
PEEKSKILL DEMOCRATS: http://www.peekskilldems.com/
PEEKSKILLREPUBLICANS:http://peekskillgop.com/
YORKTOWN SUPERVISOR ELECT DON PETERS: http://www.donpetersforyorktown.com/PUTNAM VALLEY SUPERVISOR ELECT BOB TENDY:
http://www.bobtendyforsupervisor.com/
PEEKSKILL FIRST: http://www.peekskillfirst.net/
THE PEEKSILL NEWS: http://thepeekskillnews.blogspot.com/
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CABLE SHOWS TO WATCH
ON POINT ON PEEKSKILL: Every Tuesday at 8PM channel 15 (Peekskill only)
Hosted by:DARREN RIGGER
DON PETERS AND YORKTOWN: Every Tuesday at 10PM channel 74
Hosted by: DON PETERS
YORKTOWN WATCHDOG: Every Friday at 9:30 PM on channel 74
Hosted By: ED CHIFFON
LEGISLATORS REPORT: Saturday and Sunday at various times on chanel 20
Hosted By: COUNCILMEN NICK BIANCO AND LOU CAMPISI
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EDITOR'S NOTE:
All articles re-printed in this blog from the North County News are with the permission of Bruce Apar Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
BAZZO 12/09/07
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Sunday, November 18, 2007
ELECTIONS ARE OVER...HOLD ON TO YOUR WALLETS
FYI:
Dear Readers:
I want to wish you and yours a happy, healthy and safe Thasnksgiving. May your bounty be plentiful. Please take time to remember those who have died and are now sacrificing so you may be safe at home to enjoy this holiday.
P.S. In case you are wondering, i will be having a "Hillary Clinton" turkey dinner. It will have a lagre thigh and a left wing.
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Dear Readers:
It is now time after the elections for your local and Westchester County Governments to announce their proposed budgets. They are all to a muncipality over the rate of inflation. As each of these elected officials running for office on a platform of fiscal responsibility in having budgets on or below the rate of inflation, I strongly urge you to keep your promise.
As these elected officials now make the budget process political by promises made to various constituants and groups in what they will fund or not and by how much, it is time for our municipalities to take the lead of Putnam County and have their budgets done before the election. In this matter the new budgets will be part of the decision making process when the voters cast their ballots. It is my hope the local media will champion whatever laws or charter changes necessary to make that happen. It is time to stop keeping the voters in the dark about their future.
COMMENT FROM COUNCILMAN NICK BIANCO:
RE: YORKTOWN TOWN BUDGET:
Andy:
You may add this to your blog, if you wish.
Our board met Friday and Saturday and got the supervisor's tax increase down from 5.3 to 3.3. This budget now goes before a public hearing on November 28, 2007 at Town Hall. The inflation rate for October was 3.5 % so the budget is now at below the rate of inflation. We had to not fill three positons in order to drop the budget and began the process of consolaidating departments. Why shoudl parks people stand idle in the winter and highway stand idle in the summer?. So we begin the process of getting our fine civil servants to do more for the taxpayers. We will have more info in the near future but we are going to dry to have an elected highway supt and a mini department of public works.
Councilman Nick Bianco
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Dear Readers:
It is my pleasure to announce that you cna now read my NCN column on line(see NCN link below, then click columns). It is also my pleasure to annoounce that the NCN has a new blog section where you can comment on stories and columns (see NCN link below then click "Blog it").
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THESE WERE IN THE JOURNAL NEWS:
ONE:
Westchester lawmakers scrutinize staff increases
By GLENN BLAINTHE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: November 18, 2007)
WHITE PLAINS - Looking for ways to reduce a looming property-tax increase, Westchester lawmakers intend to look closely at the additional staffing proposed by County Executive Andrew Spano.
Members of the Board of Legislators, which is reviewing the $1.78 billion budget released Thursday by Spano, said they are concerned about the 70 new positions called for in the proposed spending plan and may look to trim that number.
"We'll look at every one," said Legislator Michael Kaplowitz, D-Somers, chairman of the board's Budget and Appropriations Committee. "For every one of those (jobs), we want justification."
The proposed increases, if approved, would bring the county work force to 4,879, according to Spano's budget. The 2007 budget, which was approved in December, had raised the number by 77.
Spano administration officials defended the staffing increases, arguing that most are designated for areas that directly influence public health and safety.
"If they weren't needed, necessary and justifiable, (Spano) would not have put them in the budget," Deputy County Executive Larry Schwartz said.
Schwartz also said that the 70-position figure is misleading because it measures staff increases from numbers in the 2007 adopted budget. About 20 of the new positions already were added to the county payroll during the year.
Overall, Spano's proposed budget represents a spending increase of 4.4 percent, or almost $75.5 million, from the 2007 budget. It calls for an additional $24.4 million - 4.7 percent - to be raised through property taxes.
Kaplowitz and other lawmakers have expressed confidence that they at least can trim the proposed tax increase to less than 4 percent.
Much of the new staffing sought in the budget is designated for the county's Department of Social Services, which has seen a dramatic increase in the number of child-welfare cases it must handle in the past two years. Spano's budget calls for 22 new staff members to be added to the agency.
The new positions are part of an $18 million increase in funding to the Department of Social Services, most of it dedicated to child-welfare programs.
Social Services Commissioner Kevin Mahon said high-profile child-abuse cases in New York City and the 2006 arrest of a Bedford elementary school principal on charges that she failed to properly report a suspected case of child abuse have raised awareness of the need to report such cases to the county.
As a result, the number of suspected cases reported to the agency has soared from about 4,500 a year to more than 6,000. The added cases also have caused the county's projected foster-care expenses to rise to about $80 million in Spano's budget, up $10 million from 2007.
Of the 22 new positions proposed for his department, Mahon said 11 would be child-abuse investigators or case managers.
"If we want to do it right, this is what's required," Mahon said. "We know the numbers are increasing, and we know how long it takes to do the job."
Other staff increases are proposed for the Department of Public Safety, Schwartz said. Among them are three new county police officers to patrol the county's transit system, including Bee-Line buses.
Still, some lawmakers remain skeptical.
"I am not seeing the justification," Board of Legislators Minority Leader George Oros, R-Cortlandt, said of the added staff positions contained in Spano's budget.
Oros said the county needs to examine the services it provides and whether they also are being provided by local governments or the state and federal governments.
"My top concern is that we still have not taken any steps to look at eliminating overlap and duplication," Oros said. "The question becomes: Why are we even doing some of the things we are doing?"
What's next for proposed '08 county budget
Reach Glenn Blain at gblain@lohud.com or 914-694-5066.
TWO:
Westchester weighs $2.2M plan to add two new rides at Playland
By JORGE FITZ-GIBBONTHE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: November 17, 2007)
RYE - Westchester County is weighing a $2.2 million plan to add two new rides at the Playland amusement park and buy an existing one that is privately owned.
The measure, now under review by the county Board of Legislators, would replace two privately owned rides that were removed earlier this year after the third death at the historic county-owned park in three years.
The county proposal also calls for allocating $118,000 to buy out the privately owned go-kart ride.
"From the sense of the members that I have spoken to on the committee, it does not seem that it's going to be a problem," said county Legislator Kenneth Jenkins, D-Yonkers, who chairs the county board's parks committee.
If approved in the coming weeks, the county would pay $1.7 million to buy and install the Yo-Yo Family Swing Ride and the Himalaya Music Express Ride, county parks department spokesman Peter Tartaglia said.
Tartaglia said some of the existing rides would be relocated as part of the plan so the new rides wouldn't be at the same place as the attractions that were removed - the Power Surge and the Mind Scrambler.
Both rides were owned by S&L Amusement, the same company that owns the go-kart ride that the county is seeking to buy.
The county announced it would seek to move away from having privately owned vendors operate rides at the waterfront park after the last fatality.
Two people were killed on the Mind Scrambler in recent years, starting with the May 22, 2004, death of 7-year-old Stephanie Dieudonne and, more recently, the June 29 death park worker Gabriela Garin, 21.
In another incident, Jon-Kely Cassara, 7, was killed on the Ye Old Mill ride on Aug. 3, 2005.
Two follow-up reviews of safety at Playland by amusement industry experts determined this year that conditions had improved significantly following the deaths.
Still, Tartaglia said a review of safety records played a large role in picking the proposed new rides.
"We did some investigating ourselves and there seems to be an overall good safety record with both rides," Tartaglia said. "Once again, some of this is that people have to follow the rules and regulations on the rides, too. So, some of it goes back to that."
According to the industry watchdog group SaferParks.org, the two proposed rides have had their share of mishaps, although no fatalities were listed on the group's online database.
Rides similar to the Himalaya - a spinning ride on a sloped track - were responsible for at least 16 incidents since the beginning of 2000, according to SaferParks.org.
A patron suffered a broken arm on one ride at a Texas amusement park in 2005, the records show.
In two other incidents, five patrons were hurt when two Himalaya cars derailed in 2004 in Kentucky, and a rider suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung in Illinois in 2002.
However, those two accidents happened at traveling carnivals that featured portable versions of the rides, not a fixed version as Rye Playland would install.
The Yo-Yo ride, on which a chair dangling from a chain is raised and spins in a circle, was responsible for nine minor injuries over the same time span, the online database shows.
But five of those occurred when patrons were getting on or off and the ride was not in motion.
On two occasions, children suffered pinched fingers while on the ride, the records show.
Reach Jorge Fitz-Gibbon at jfitzgib@lohud.com or 914-694-5016.
THREE:
Spano calls for an additional $24.4 million - 4.7 percent - to be raised through property taxes
By GLENN BLAINTHE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: November 16, 2007)
WHITE PLAINS - A "disappearing" stream of sales-tax revenue and rising child-welfare cases may cause Westchester taxpayers to fork over almost 5 percent more next year.
County Executive Andrew Spano yesterday released a $1.78 billion budget for 2008 that calls for an additional $24.4 million - 4.7 percent - to be raised through property taxes and increases Bee-Line bus fares by 25 cents.
"It's a good budget," Spano, a Democrat, said during a morning news conference. "We don't like to raise taxes, but I think that the money we're spending here is on appropriate things. ... We're cutting where we can cut, but we have very little leeway in a budget like this."
Because each of Westchester's cities and towns levies property taxes differently, it is difficult to predict the precise impact of Spano's budget on homeowners. Generally, about 15 percent of an average resident's tax bill goes to the county.
According to an estimate from the Spano administration, a person who now pays about $10,000 in total property taxes pays about $1,500 to the county. A 4.7 percent increase is about $70.
Spano's budget proposal, which now goes before the Board of Legislators for review, represents a spending increase of 4.4 percent, or almost $75.5 million, over the 2007 budget. It also increases county staff by 70 positions from the current budget and provides an additional $9 million to cover staffing and overtime at the county's prison system.
Legislators reacted cautiously to Spano's budget, with some, especially Republicans, expressing reservations about the property-tax increase.
"It's not good," said Board of Legislators Minority Leader George Oros, R-Cortlandt. "We have to get closer to zero than to 5 percent. The taxpayers cannot be constantly faced with this increase. ... It's above the rate of inflation, and we can do better."
Spano said much of the tax-levy increase - about $18 million - is needed to pay for child-welfare services, which the county is obligated to provide under state law.
Since 2006, the number of such cases handled by the county has increased by more than 1,400. To deal with that increase, Spano's budget adds 22 staff members in the Department of Social Services and five in the County Attorney's Office.
Social Services Commissioner Kevin Mahon said the 2006 arrest of a Bedford elementary school principal on charges that she failed to properly report a suspected case of child abuse raised awareness about the need to report such cases to the county.
"As reports go up, more protective services are required for those families and then, therefore, more kids come into care," Mahon said. "And that's really where the expense is."
Spano also warned that the county's sales-tax revenue, which accounts for about 28 percent of the money collected by the government, is not growing as fast as officials had hoped.
The proposed budget calls for only a 1.6 percent increase in sales-tax revenue from the $365 million that was projected in the 2007 budget. County officials already have admitted that actual sales-tax revenue for 2007 is expected to fall about $5 million short of that budget projection.
"I'll tell you why it's alarming," Spano said. "Our two major sources (of revenue) are property tax and sales tax. And one of them is disappearing ... I mean disappearing in terms of its growth. We're projecting more sales tax, but when you look at what's being built around here and what's coming online, you would anticipate more sales tax."
The bus fare increase, Spano said, was due largely to rising fuel and personnel costs. Without a fare increase, the county's property-tax levy would rise by an additional $500,000, he added.
Among riders, however, the proposed fare increase was not welcome news.
"That would hurt," James Roberts of Mount Vernon said as he waited for a bus in White Plains yesterday. He uses the Bee-Line at least three times a week. "That 25 cents would be a pain in the neck."
The Board of Legislators' Budget and Appropriations Committee is expected to begin its review of Spano's plan this morning. The board also has scheduled budget hearings, the first of which will be Nov. 28 in Mount Kisco.
Budget committee Chairman Michael Kaplowitz, D-Somers, called the budget a "good start" but expressed the hope that lawmakers could find more savings in the spending plan and reduce the tax increase. The committee will pay special attention to the staffing increases to see whether they can be trimmed, he said.
"We are just going to look at every single department and take out our pencils to see what we can do," Kaplowitz said.
Reach Glenn Blain at gblain@lohud.com or 914-694
FOUR:
Banning trans fats
(Original publication: November 14, 2007)
Last year, when the Westchester County Health Department asked restaurants in the county to refrain from cooking with oils that contain artificial trans-fatty acids, hundreds of chefs and restaurateurs eagerly volunteered to comply with the request. The restaurant owners said that they were as concerned as health officials were about the ill effects of artery-clogging trans-fats. Those willing to comply wouldn't mind switching to oils that might cost a little more but would prove better for their customers' health.
Armed with this compliance, the Health Department declined to enact a ban and decided to focus its efforts on an education campaign that focused on cooking with healthful oils.
The problem is, the county was preaching to the converted.
About 650 of 3,000 eating establishments countywide agreed to give up the partially hydrogenated oils. It turned out it wasn't quite the "right'' 650.
"The majority of people who signed up were already using trans fat-free oils, while the ones who were using oils with trans-fats didn't switch," Heather McGill, spokeswoman for the Health Department, told the Editorial Board yesterday. "We kind of weren't reaching the group we had hoped to reach."
A new regulation
So now the department has proposed a new regulation, one that would ban the use of oils with trans fats from restaurants, cafes, office cafeterias and even mobile food carts. If the regulation is adopted, those who don't comply would be in violation of the county health code and could face fines.
It may be the first trans fat ban in the Lower Hudson Valley. In the summer, Putnam County asked restaurants to voluntarily eliminate trans fats, and about 50 out of roughly 375 pledged not to use the oils. Rockland County has, so far, not addressed the trans fats issue.
Westchester's proposed ban follows a similar ban that New York City adopted last year, after voluntary compliance failed there.
The Westchester County Department of Health will hold a public hearing on the matter tomorrow. Expect to hear from restaurant advocates who might argue that the law is burdensome and unnecessary. Trans fats are "a legal substance'' approved by the Food and Drug Administration, said Rich Stytzer, president of the Westchester and Rockland chapter of the New York State Restaurant Association, in a Monday news article.
Similar arguments were heard when Westchester banned smoking in bars and restaurants in 2003. It turns out that the smoking ban didn't hurt businesses; instead, it lured diners who like to taste their food "unsmoked.'' The effort has improved the health of many smokers and nonsmokers alike, including workers once subjected to second-hand smoke. We think a trans fat ban will be similarly successful when it comes to public health. It won't unduly burden business owners, and it will help diners keep heart-attack-inducing trans fats out of their arteries.
A Journal News editorial
MY COMMENTS ON THESE:
I have reserved my cvomments for the upcomming issue of the NCN on sale Wednesday 11/21/07.
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UPCOMMING EVENTS AT SUSAN'S RESTAURANT ON N. DIVISION STREET PEEKSKILL
Susan's Restaurant 12 North Division Street, Peekskill, NY 10566 (914) 737-6624
http://www.blogger.com/
Great Music, Great Food, Great People " Where you want to be"
Susan's will be open Thanksgiving Day for a Prix Fixe Dinner including Turkey and all the Trimmings, or Baked Virginia Ham or Grilled Vegetable Lasagna or Broiled Salmon $35.00 Plus Tax and Tip
Don't forget to make your reservations early for Christmas Eve, New year's Eve and New Year's Day Brunch.
http://www.blogger.com/
$30.00 Prix Fixe Meal Includes Movie Ticket
Thursdays Open Mic This Thursday Leah Quinn
Sunday Jazz Brunch 12:00 - 3:00 PM with John Basile
Friday 11/23 The House Band
Saturday 11/24 The Nora McCarthy Qu'Art'Et Featuring Jorge Sylvester - Alto Sax, James Weidman - Piano, Andy McCloud - Bass, and David Gibson - Drums
Mondays - Seafood Night 3 Course Seafood Menu $25
Tuesdays - Prime Rib Dinner $19.95 Classical Guitar with Tom Goslin
Wednesdays - Jazz Jam Hosted by Bob Meyer 8:30 PM *** Prix Fixe Dinner Available $25 With Wine $35***
Thursdays - Open Mic with Leah Quinn 8:00 PM Half Priced Bottles of Wine
Sundays - Jazz Brunch with John Basile and Mike Goetz http://www.blogger.com/
Late Night Menu until 12:00 Midnight Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
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THIS WEEKS "IN MY OPINION COLUMN" IN THE NCN:
Dear Readers:
This week I discuss the aftermath of the Putnam Valley elections. You can read my column on this topic exclusively on line(see link below)and in this weeks NORTH COUNTY NEWS on sale now. I am worth the seventy-five cents. Look for my column IN MY OPINION(page 10) in the editorial section. Better yet as this column is exclusive to the North County News on a regular basis and will be covering the local political scene, take out a subscription. Click on the North County News link below and go to Subscribe. Between this blog and The North County News you will have all the information to make a vote based on substance.
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FYI: ATOM TAXI INC. AIRPORT SERVICE:
Dear Readers:
This gives me a chance to plug my business ATOM TAXI INC. As you are planning your holiday travel, instead of the headache of trying to find Airport parking, we do Airport Service to The Westchester County Airport(and ALL other airports) 24/7. Just call 1(914)879-6121 and my partner Tommy, will be glad to take you in our Airport Taxi. You will also be provided with a free copy of your local paper of record The North County News. If this is a business trip we also provide a professional receipt, just tell Tommy at the time of booking. The cost of a one-way trip to the Westchester County Airport is seventy dollars. To LaGuardia Airport the cost is Ninety-four dollars which includes all tolls. The cost to JFK and Newark Airports is one hundred-twenty-five dollars which also includes all tolls. We do not take credit cards, sorry.
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E-MAIL ME WITH YOUR COMMENTS:
Dear Readers:
It has come to my attention the difficulty in posting a comment on this blog. If you wish to comment, e-mail me at the link posted below, putting "Manifesto Reader" in the subject matter, and I will "cut and Paste" your comments myself. If you DO NOT wish your comments posted, but just wish to communicate with me, please make your wishes known in the e-mail.
LINKS: atom_taxi@yahoo.com(as this a yahoo address make sure you put an underscore (-) between atom and taxi)
For immediate reply: atomtaxi@aol.com
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SITES TO LINK TO:
YORKTOWN COUNCILMAN NICK BIANCO: http://www.electbianco.com/
PLAN PUTNAM: planputnam@googlegroups.com/
PEEKSKILL GUARDIAN: http://peekskillguardian.blogspot.com/
NORTH COUNTY NEWS: http://northcountynews.com/
THE JOURNAL NEWS: http://thejournalnews.com/
PEEKSKILL DEMOCRATS: http://www.peekskilldems.com/
PEEKSKILLREPUBLICANS:http://peekskillgop.com/
YORKTOWN CANDIDATE FOR SUPERVISOR DON PETERS: http://www.donpetersforyorktown.com/
PUTNAM VALLEY CANDIDATE FOR SUPERVISOR BOB TENDY:http://www.bobtendyforsupervisor.com/
PEEKSKILL FIRST: http://www.peekskillfirst.net/
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CABLE SHOWS TO WATCH
ON POINT ON PEEKSKILL: Every Tuesday at 8PM channel 15 (Peekskill only)
Hosted by:DARREN RIGGER
DON PETERS AND YORKTOWN: Every Tuesday at 10PM channel 74
Hosted by: DON PETERS
YORKTOWN WATCHDOG: Every Friday at 9:30 PM on channel 74
Hosted By: ED CHIFFON
LEGISLATORS REPORT: Saturday and Sunday at various times on chanel 20
Hosted By: COUNCILMEN NICK BIANCO AND LOU CAMPISI
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EDITOR'S NOTE:All articles re-printed in this blog from the North County News are with the permission of Bruce Apar Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
BAZZO 11/18/07
Dear Readers:
I want to wish you and yours a happy, healthy and safe Thasnksgiving. May your bounty be plentiful. Please take time to remember those who have died and are now sacrificing so you may be safe at home to enjoy this holiday.
P.S. In case you are wondering, i will be having a "Hillary Clinton" turkey dinner. It will have a lagre thigh and a left wing.
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Dear Readers:
It is now time after the elections for your local and Westchester County Governments to announce their proposed budgets. They are all to a muncipality over the rate of inflation. As each of these elected officials running for office on a platform of fiscal responsibility in having budgets on or below the rate of inflation, I strongly urge you to keep your promise.
As these elected officials now make the budget process political by promises made to various constituants and groups in what they will fund or not and by how much, it is time for our municipalities to take the lead of Putnam County and have their budgets done before the election. In this matter the new budgets will be part of the decision making process when the voters cast their ballots. It is my hope the local media will champion whatever laws or charter changes necessary to make that happen. It is time to stop keeping the voters in the dark about their future.
COMMENT FROM COUNCILMAN NICK BIANCO:
RE: YORKTOWN TOWN BUDGET:
Andy:
You may add this to your blog, if you wish.
Our board met Friday and Saturday and got the supervisor's tax increase down from 5.3 to 3.3. This budget now goes before a public hearing on November 28, 2007 at Town Hall. The inflation rate for October was 3.5 % so the budget is now at below the rate of inflation. We had to not fill three positons in order to drop the budget and began the process of consolaidating departments. Why shoudl parks people stand idle in the winter and highway stand idle in the summer?. So we begin the process of getting our fine civil servants to do more for the taxpayers. We will have more info in the near future but we are going to dry to have an elected highway supt and a mini department of public works.
Councilman Nick Bianco
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Dear Readers:
It is my pleasure to announce that you cna now read my NCN column on line(see NCN link below, then click columns). It is also my pleasure to annoounce that the NCN has a new blog section where you can comment on stories and columns (see NCN link below then click "Blog it").
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THESE WERE IN THE JOURNAL NEWS:
ONE:
Westchester lawmakers scrutinize staff increases
By GLENN BLAINTHE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: November 18, 2007)
WHITE PLAINS - Looking for ways to reduce a looming property-tax increase, Westchester lawmakers intend to look closely at the additional staffing proposed by County Executive Andrew Spano.
Members of the Board of Legislators, which is reviewing the $1.78 billion budget released Thursday by Spano, said they are concerned about the 70 new positions called for in the proposed spending plan and may look to trim that number.
"We'll look at every one," said Legislator Michael Kaplowitz, D-Somers, chairman of the board's Budget and Appropriations Committee. "For every one of those (jobs), we want justification."
The proposed increases, if approved, would bring the county work force to 4,879, according to Spano's budget. The 2007 budget, which was approved in December, had raised the number by 77.
Spano administration officials defended the staffing increases, arguing that most are designated for areas that directly influence public health and safety.
"If they weren't needed, necessary and justifiable, (Spano) would not have put them in the budget," Deputy County Executive Larry Schwartz said.
Schwartz also said that the 70-position figure is misleading because it measures staff increases from numbers in the 2007 adopted budget. About 20 of the new positions already were added to the county payroll during the year.
Overall, Spano's proposed budget represents a spending increase of 4.4 percent, or almost $75.5 million, from the 2007 budget. It calls for an additional $24.4 million - 4.7 percent - to be raised through property taxes.
Kaplowitz and other lawmakers have expressed confidence that they at least can trim the proposed tax increase to less than 4 percent.
Much of the new staffing sought in the budget is designated for the county's Department of Social Services, which has seen a dramatic increase in the number of child-welfare cases it must handle in the past two years. Spano's budget calls for 22 new staff members to be added to the agency.
The new positions are part of an $18 million increase in funding to the Department of Social Services, most of it dedicated to child-welfare programs.
Social Services Commissioner Kevin Mahon said high-profile child-abuse cases in New York City and the 2006 arrest of a Bedford elementary school principal on charges that she failed to properly report a suspected case of child abuse have raised awareness of the need to report such cases to the county.
As a result, the number of suspected cases reported to the agency has soared from about 4,500 a year to more than 6,000. The added cases also have caused the county's projected foster-care expenses to rise to about $80 million in Spano's budget, up $10 million from 2007.
Of the 22 new positions proposed for his department, Mahon said 11 would be child-abuse investigators or case managers.
"If we want to do it right, this is what's required," Mahon said. "We know the numbers are increasing, and we know how long it takes to do the job."
Other staff increases are proposed for the Department of Public Safety, Schwartz said. Among them are three new county police officers to patrol the county's transit system, including Bee-Line buses.
Still, some lawmakers remain skeptical.
"I am not seeing the justification," Board of Legislators Minority Leader George Oros, R-Cortlandt, said of the added staff positions contained in Spano's budget.
Oros said the county needs to examine the services it provides and whether they also are being provided by local governments or the state and federal governments.
"My top concern is that we still have not taken any steps to look at eliminating overlap and duplication," Oros said. "The question becomes: Why are we even doing some of the things we are doing?"
What's next for proposed '08 county budget
Reach Glenn Blain at gblain@lohud.com or 914-694-5066.
TWO:
Westchester weighs $2.2M plan to add two new rides at Playland
By JORGE FITZ-GIBBONTHE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: November 17, 2007)
RYE - Westchester County is weighing a $2.2 million plan to add two new rides at the Playland amusement park and buy an existing one that is privately owned.
The measure, now under review by the county Board of Legislators, would replace two privately owned rides that were removed earlier this year after the third death at the historic county-owned park in three years.
The county proposal also calls for allocating $118,000 to buy out the privately owned go-kart ride.
"From the sense of the members that I have spoken to on the committee, it does not seem that it's going to be a problem," said county Legislator Kenneth Jenkins, D-Yonkers, who chairs the county board's parks committee.
If approved in the coming weeks, the county would pay $1.7 million to buy and install the Yo-Yo Family Swing Ride and the Himalaya Music Express Ride, county parks department spokesman Peter Tartaglia said.
Tartaglia said some of the existing rides would be relocated as part of the plan so the new rides wouldn't be at the same place as the attractions that were removed - the Power Surge and the Mind Scrambler.
Both rides were owned by S&L Amusement, the same company that owns the go-kart ride that the county is seeking to buy.
The county announced it would seek to move away from having privately owned vendors operate rides at the waterfront park after the last fatality.
Two people were killed on the Mind Scrambler in recent years, starting with the May 22, 2004, death of 7-year-old Stephanie Dieudonne and, more recently, the June 29 death park worker Gabriela Garin, 21.
In another incident, Jon-Kely Cassara, 7, was killed on the Ye Old Mill ride on Aug. 3, 2005.
Two follow-up reviews of safety at Playland by amusement industry experts determined this year that conditions had improved significantly following the deaths.
Still, Tartaglia said a review of safety records played a large role in picking the proposed new rides.
"We did some investigating ourselves and there seems to be an overall good safety record with both rides," Tartaglia said. "Once again, some of this is that people have to follow the rules and regulations on the rides, too. So, some of it goes back to that."
According to the industry watchdog group SaferParks.org, the two proposed rides have had their share of mishaps, although no fatalities were listed on the group's online database.
Rides similar to the Himalaya - a spinning ride on a sloped track - were responsible for at least 16 incidents since the beginning of 2000, according to SaferParks.org.
A patron suffered a broken arm on one ride at a Texas amusement park in 2005, the records show.
In two other incidents, five patrons were hurt when two Himalaya cars derailed in 2004 in Kentucky, and a rider suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung in Illinois in 2002.
However, those two accidents happened at traveling carnivals that featured portable versions of the rides, not a fixed version as Rye Playland would install.
The Yo-Yo ride, on which a chair dangling from a chain is raised and spins in a circle, was responsible for nine minor injuries over the same time span, the online database shows.
But five of those occurred when patrons were getting on or off and the ride was not in motion.
On two occasions, children suffered pinched fingers while on the ride, the records show.
Reach Jorge Fitz-Gibbon at jfitzgib@lohud.com or 914-694-5016.
THREE:
Spano calls for an additional $24.4 million - 4.7 percent - to be raised through property taxes
By GLENN BLAINTHE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: November 16, 2007)
WHITE PLAINS - A "disappearing" stream of sales-tax revenue and rising child-welfare cases may cause Westchester taxpayers to fork over almost 5 percent more next year.
County Executive Andrew Spano yesterday released a $1.78 billion budget for 2008 that calls for an additional $24.4 million - 4.7 percent - to be raised through property taxes and increases Bee-Line bus fares by 25 cents.
"It's a good budget," Spano, a Democrat, said during a morning news conference. "We don't like to raise taxes, but I think that the money we're spending here is on appropriate things. ... We're cutting where we can cut, but we have very little leeway in a budget like this."
Because each of Westchester's cities and towns levies property taxes differently, it is difficult to predict the precise impact of Spano's budget on homeowners. Generally, about 15 percent of an average resident's tax bill goes to the county.
According to an estimate from the Spano administration, a person who now pays about $10,000 in total property taxes pays about $1,500 to the county. A 4.7 percent increase is about $70.
Spano's budget proposal, which now goes before the Board of Legislators for review, represents a spending increase of 4.4 percent, or almost $75.5 million, over the 2007 budget. It also increases county staff by 70 positions from the current budget and provides an additional $9 million to cover staffing and overtime at the county's prison system.
Legislators reacted cautiously to Spano's budget, with some, especially Republicans, expressing reservations about the property-tax increase.
"It's not good," said Board of Legislators Minority Leader George Oros, R-Cortlandt. "We have to get closer to zero than to 5 percent. The taxpayers cannot be constantly faced with this increase. ... It's above the rate of inflation, and we can do better."
Spano said much of the tax-levy increase - about $18 million - is needed to pay for child-welfare services, which the county is obligated to provide under state law.
Since 2006, the number of such cases handled by the county has increased by more than 1,400. To deal with that increase, Spano's budget adds 22 staff members in the Department of Social Services and five in the County Attorney's Office.
Social Services Commissioner Kevin Mahon said the 2006 arrest of a Bedford elementary school principal on charges that she failed to properly report a suspected case of child abuse raised awareness about the need to report such cases to the county.
"As reports go up, more protective services are required for those families and then, therefore, more kids come into care," Mahon said. "And that's really where the expense is."
Spano also warned that the county's sales-tax revenue, which accounts for about 28 percent of the money collected by the government, is not growing as fast as officials had hoped.
The proposed budget calls for only a 1.6 percent increase in sales-tax revenue from the $365 million that was projected in the 2007 budget. County officials already have admitted that actual sales-tax revenue for 2007 is expected to fall about $5 million short of that budget projection.
"I'll tell you why it's alarming," Spano said. "Our two major sources (of revenue) are property tax and sales tax. And one of them is disappearing ... I mean disappearing in terms of its growth. We're projecting more sales tax, but when you look at what's being built around here and what's coming online, you would anticipate more sales tax."
The bus fare increase, Spano said, was due largely to rising fuel and personnel costs. Without a fare increase, the county's property-tax levy would rise by an additional $500,000, he added.
Among riders, however, the proposed fare increase was not welcome news.
"That would hurt," James Roberts of Mount Vernon said as he waited for a bus in White Plains yesterday. He uses the Bee-Line at least three times a week. "That 25 cents would be a pain in the neck."
The Board of Legislators' Budget and Appropriations Committee is expected to begin its review of Spano's plan this morning. The board also has scheduled budget hearings, the first of which will be Nov. 28 in Mount Kisco.
Budget committee Chairman Michael Kaplowitz, D-Somers, called the budget a "good start" but expressed the hope that lawmakers could find more savings in the spending plan and reduce the tax increase. The committee will pay special attention to the staffing increases to see whether they can be trimmed, he said.
"We are just going to look at every single department and take out our pencils to see what we can do," Kaplowitz said.
Reach Glenn Blain at gblain@lohud.com or 914-694
FOUR:
Banning trans fats
(Original publication: November 14, 2007)
Last year, when the Westchester County Health Department asked restaurants in the county to refrain from cooking with oils that contain artificial trans-fatty acids, hundreds of chefs and restaurateurs eagerly volunteered to comply with the request. The restaurant owners said that they were as concerned as health officials were about the ill effects of artery-clogging trans-fats. Those willing to comply wouldn't mind switching to oils that might cost a little more but would prove better for their customers' health.
Armed with this compliance, the Health Department declined to enact a ban and decided to focus its efforts on an education campaign that focused on cooking with healthful oils.
The problem is, the county was preaching to the converted.
About 650 of 3,000 eating establishments countywide agreed to give up the partially hydrogenated oils. It turned out it wasn't quite the "right'' 650.
"The majority of people who signed up were already using trans fat-free oils, while the ones who were using oils with trans-fats didn't switch," Heather McGill, spokeswoman for the Health Department, told the Editorial Board yesterday. "We kind of weren't reaching the group we had hoped to reach."
A new regulation
So now the department has proposed a new regulation, one that would ban the use of oils with trans fats from restaurants, cafes, office cafeterias and even mobile food carts. If the regulation is adopted, those who don't comply would be in violation of the county health code and could face fines.
It may be the first trans fat ban in the Lower Hudson Valley. In the summer, Putnam County asked restaurants to voluntarily eliminate trans fats, and about 50 out of roughly 375 pledged not to use the oils. Rockland County has, so far, not addressed the trans fats issue.
Westchester's proposed ban follows a similar ban that New York City adopted last year, after voluntary compliance failed there.
The Westchester County Department of Health will hold a public hearing on the matter tomorrow. Expect to hear from restaurant advocates who might argue that the law is burdensome and unnecessary. Trans fats are "a legal substance'' approved by the Food and Drug Administration, said Rich Stytzer, president of the Westchester and Rockland chapter of the New York State Restaurant Association, in a Monday news article.
Similar arguments were heard when Westchester banned smoking in bars and restaurants in 2003. It turns out that the smoking ban didn't hurt businesses; instead, it lured diners who like to taste their food "unsmoked.'' The effort has improved the health of many smokers and nonsmokers alike, including workers once subjected to second-hand smoke. We think a trans fat ban will be similarly successful when it comes to public health. It won't unduly burden business owners, and it will help diners keep heart-attack-inducing trans fats out of their arteries.
A Journal News editorial
MY COMMENTS ON THESE:
I have reserved my cvomments for the upcomming issue of the NCN on sale Wednesday 11/21/07.
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UPCOMMING EVENTS AT SUSAN'S RESTAURANT ON N. DIVISION STREET PEEKSKILL
Susan's Restaurant 12 North Division Street, Peekskill, NY 10566 (914) 737-6624
http://www.blogger.com/
Great Music, Great Food, Great People " Where you want to be"
Susan's will be open Thanksgiving Day for a Prix Fixe Dinner including Turkey and all the Trimmings, or Baked Virginia Ham or Grilled Vegetable Lasagna or Broiled Salmon $35.00 Plus Tax and Tip
Don't forget to make your reservations early for Christmas Eve, New year's Eve and New Year's Day Brunch.
http://www.blogger.com/
$30.00 Prix Fixe Meal Includes Movie Ticket
Thursdays Open Mic This Thursday Leah Quinn
Sunday Jazz Brunch 12:00 - 3:00 PM with John Basile
Friday 11/23 The House Band
Saturday 11/24 The Nora McCarthy Qu'Art'Et Featuring Jorge Sylvester - Alto Sax, James Weidman - Piano, Andy McCloud - Bass, and David Gibson - Drums
Mondays - Seafood Night 3 Course Seafood Menu $25
Tuesdays - Prime Rib Dinner $19.95 Classical Guitar with Tom Goslin
Wednesdays - Jazz Jam Hosted by Bob Meyer 8:30 PM *** Prix Fixe Dinner Available $25 With Wine $35***
Thursdays - Open Mic with Leah Quinn 8:00 PM Half Priced Bottles of Wine
Sundays - Jazz Brunch with John Basile and Mike Goetz http://www.blogger.com/
Late Night Menu until 12:00 Midnight Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
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THIS WEEKS "IN MY OPINION COLUMN" IN THE NCN:
Dear Readers:
This week I discuss the aftermath of the Putnam Valley elections. You can read my column on this topic exclusively on line(see link below)and in this weeks NORTH COUNTY NEWS on sale now. I am worth the seventy-five cents. Look for my column IN MY OPINION(page 10) in the editorial section. Better yet as this column is exclusive to the North County News on a regular basis and will be covering the local political scene, take out a subscription. Click on the North County News link below and go to Subscribe. Between this blog and The North County News you will have all the information to make a vote based on substance.
************************************************************************
FYI: ATOM TAXI INC. AIRPORT SERVICE:
Dear Readers:
This gives me a chance to plug my business ATOM TAXI INC. As you are planning your holiday travel, instead of the headache of trying to find Airport parking, we do Airport Service to The Westchester County Airport(and ALL other airports) 24/7. Just call 1(914)879-6121 and my partner Tommy, will be glad to take you in our Airport Taxi. You will also be provided with a free copy of your local paper of record The North County News. If this is a business trip we also provide a professional receipt, just tell Tommy at the time of booking. The cost of a one-way trip to the Westchester County Airport is seventy dollars. To LaGuardia Airport the cost is Ninety-four dollars which includes all tolls. The cost to JFK and Newark Airports is one hundred-twenty-five dollars which also includes all tolls. We do not take credit cards, sorry.
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E-MAIL ME WITH YOUR COMMENTS:
Dear Readers:
It has come to my attention the difficulty in posting a comment on this blog. If you wish to comment, e-mail me at the link posted below, putting "Manifesto Reader" in the subject matter, and I will "cut and Paste" your comments myself. If you DO NOT wish your comments posted, but just wish to communicate with me, please make your wishes known in the e-mail.
LINKS: atom_taxi@yahoo.com(as this a yahoo address make sure you put an underscore (-) between atom and taxi)
For immediate reply: atomtaxi@aol.com
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SITES TO LINK TO:
YORKTOWN COUNCILMAN NICK BIANCO: http://www.electbianco.com/
PLAN PUTNAM: planputnam@googlegroups.com/
PEEKSKILL GUARDIAN: http://peekskillguardian.blogspot.com/
NORTH COUNTY NEWS: http://northcountynews.com/
THE JOURNAL NEWS: http://thejournalnews.com/
PEEKSKILL DEMOCRATS: http://www.peekskilldems.com/
PEEKSKILLREPUBLICANS:http://peekskillgop.com/
YORKTOWN CANDIDATE FOR SUPERVISOR DON PETERS: http://www.donpetersforyorktown.com/
PUTNAM VALLEY CANDIDATE FOR SUPERVISOR BOB TENDY:http://www.bobtendyforsupervisor.com/
PEEKSKILL FIRST: http://www.peekskillfirst.net/
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CABLE SHOWS TO WATCH
ON POINT ON PEEKSKILL: Every Tuesday at 8PM channel 15 (Peekskill only)
Hosted by:DARREN RIGGER
DON PETERS AND YORKTOWN: Every Tuesday at 10PM channel 74
Hosted by: DON PETERS
YORKTOWN WATCHDOG: Every Friday at 9:30 PM on channel 74
Hosted By: ED CHIFFON
LEGISLATORS REPORT: Saturday and Sunday at various times on chanel 20
Hosted By: COUNCILMEN NICK BIANCO AND LOU CAMPISI
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EDITOR'S NOTE:All articles re-printed in this blog from the North County News are with the permission of Bruce Apar Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
BAZZO 11/18/07
Sunday, November 04, 2007
CANDIDATES FINAL THOUGHTS BEFORE THE ELECTION
Dear Readers:
The following posts are from those running for office who wish to say one more thing before Tuesday. I thank them for believing you are important to them. Remember to vote Tueday November 6, these candidates have worked hard for your vote, they met you half way. It is up to you on Tuesday to meet them the other half and vote. It is a right people have died for. Your vote does count, especiallly in a local election as turn out is generally low. It will not take much for you to influence this election.
So Tuesday November 6, exercise your franchise and vote early and often. For those who by chance disagree with my choices(see last weeks post), your chance to vote is Wednesday. Also next year, when a candidate uses a lawn sign, please be more specific, a number of people have asked me "What office is Caldwell Banker running for"?
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********************WESTCHESTER LEGISLATOR"S RACE***************************
DOMENEC VOLPE:
Dear Readers:
Good morning-
The time has come for voters to speak their piece. After countless mailers, press releases, literature drops, debates, blogs, etc... the candidates platforms should be clear. Typically while the candidates and their committees start out on a high level many voters are not paying attention to these local races until recently. Now candidates are tiring because of the countless hours put into these races and voters are beginning to focus.
There is a democratic process and a privilege in the United States that many citizens seem to have forgotten- the right to vote. Our last election saw only 31% of registered voters come out to vote. I have always said voting is what makes our country great, since there can be a revolution without one shot being fired! Think about it -- look around the world and see how governments are being overthrown and people face real time crisis . Why? Dissatisfaction.
If you feel our elected leaders should be more responsive to our concerns, be more visible not just during election campaigns but everyday life, and be willing to take responsibility when there are mistakes made then please go out and cast your vote. They say campaigns are about issues and elections are about people. I hope that I have shown not just within the past six months of this campaign but my entire life in and around the Peekskill/Cortlandt/Yorktown area that my involvement with many organizations, stances on many issues, hard work, family business reputation and countless volunteer hours for many different causes will give you the reason to vote for me on election day. Think of this-- Vote on Tuesday November 6 and at least say I voted for her/him because.... rather than pick up a newspaper and find out the person you felt who was more in line with your thinking lost by only 2 or 3 votes.
Respectfully
Domenic Volpe
Westchester County Legislator
Candidate- District 1
GEORGE OROS:
Soon, you as a voter, will have a choice to make. This election is not about party labels or what is going on in Washington. It is about who can best represnt you in the $1.7 billion dollar operation that is County governmnet. If you examine the record closely, view the debates availabel on the North County News Website, and put personality and party aside there is only one person best suited to be our County Legislator: GEORGE OROS.
He has experience and ability to work in a bi partisan fashion to meet the challenges ahead. George Oros has a track record that shows. Going beyond the Oros record is true vision of what is necessary to get our County and the Legislative District moving in the right direction. Below is the George Oros platform in breif
2007 PLATFORM IN BRIEF
On Spending and Taxes:
There is no more important issue to residents than property taxes. The ever increasing tax burden in our County is rapidly driving out the middle class. Over the last 12 years I have dedicated much time and effort fighting unnecessary spending and rising property taxes.
· Propose 2008 County hiring freeze
· Introduced $20 million in spending cuts for 2007
· Establish Public/Private Partnership to eliminate waste and duplication in a form similar to the Federal Military Base Closing Commission wherein at least 30% of the Partnership’s recommendation must be immediately implemented.
· Continue County consolidation which in 2007 resulted in a 44% decrease in the County Sewer Tax in the First Legislative District
· Push for enactment of the reforms introduced this session to increase accountability and reducing the powers of the non elected Board of Acquisition and Contract.
· Establish an independent Office of Inspector General with full subpoena powers.
· Eliminate sales tax on home heating oil and natural gas used for heating homes.
· Repeal or spread to entire County the 2005 increase in the County Sales tax (Oros voted no on this increase because it was applied only outside the four large cities, thereby making District One residents pay unfair share)
On Public Safety
The first right of every citizen is the peace of mind of living in a safe neighborhood. I will continue to support law enforcement with the proper resources to do the job right.
· Enact County Law forbidding registered sex offenders and pedophiles from living within 2,000 feet of parks, schools and playgrounds.
· Continue County Police Northern Command Center
· Maintain security at Indian Point and require Independent Safety Assessment.
· Provide an exemption on the Auto Use Tax for active volunteer emergency responders.
· Expand training facility for public safety officers.
· Reduce fees charged to local law enforcement agencies by the County for use of the target practice range.
On Youth
Today they chair a Youth Bureau meeting or lead their peers in a discussion on how to avoid drugs; soon, they will be the mayor or town supervisor and lead this community. Our youth need to know, every day, that they are important and that we are there to support them.
· Increased funding for the Peekskill Youth Bureau
· Expand the used computer program to disadvantaged youth.
· Youth Summit to promote summer and part time employment opportunities for youth.
· Tie County IDA incentives give to business to a requirement to hire at risk and disadvantaged youth.
· Increase County/local partnerships in upgrading parks and recreational facilities.
On the Environment
There are few things that comprise our quality of life more than the air we breathe and the water we drink.
· Continue progress of preserving open space.
· Stepped up County assistance in sewering the Peekskill Watershed.
· Make certain sewage diversion never happens.
· Ensure that future use under the upcoming operation agreement at Charles Point Refuse Recovery facility is clean, safe and causes no harm to public safety or the environment.
· Establish a Green Housing Implementation Fund to spur development of “green homes” and encouraging energy use from renewable sources.
· Fulfill pledge to close Sprout Brook Ash Pit in 2009 and that proper monitoring remains in place.
On Affordable Housing
Westchester remains one of the most desirable areas to live and work, yet many who grew up here are forced to make their homes elsewhere due to a lack of housing options.
· Prime way to make housing affordable is to reduce property taxes.
· Establish County Down Payment Revolving Fund for qualified first time home buyers.
· Just as the IDA waives sales and mortgage tax on business develop, waive county mortgage tax, construction sales tax and first five years of County property taxes on affordable units.
On Senior Citizens
Our senior citizens have paid their dues and are a valuable asset to our community. Their wealth of experience and knowledge should be better utilized.
· Expand County’s Legacy Program to include recreational facilities designed with senior citizens in mind.
ONE MORE ITEM FROM GEORGE OROS:
Dear Yorktown Voter:
Election Day is Tuesday and though I don't live in Yorktown, I hav come to know a candidate running for Town Board who you should vote for on Tuesday. Please join me in supporting J. Mark Drexel in his bid for Yorktown Councilman.
Mark has impressed me with his solid commitment to listen and act on behalf of the Yorktown community. He and his family have been active residents of Yorktown for 25 years. Mark has a proven track record of leadership as a Yorktown School District Trustee, a Boy Scout Leader and soccer coach. His over 25 years of corporate experience will prove invaluable to the Yorktown Council.
Mark’s professional, volunteer and school board experience make him the right candidate to represent you and improve Yorktown.
I urge you to vote on Tuesday, November 6th for J. Mark Drexel, Yorktown Councilman.
Sincerely,
George Oros
Westchester County Legislator
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********************THE YORKTOWN COUNCIL RACES*******************************
NICK BIANCO:
I would first like to thank Andy for allow candidates to get in the last word on his blog and for his kind words concerning me.
-
What makes a town great? To me, a great town must have a high quailty of life. Residents must feel safe and secure, and have wonderful public spaces and parks in which to visit with their families. I believe we have this in Yorktown. We have a great police department while some of our neighbor towns have none. We have garbage pick up two times a week while some of our neighbor towns have one time or private carters. We have a highway department second to none and the envy of our neighbors. When snow comes how relieved are we when we reach Yorktown and see blacktop on our roads. We have a state of art pools and both active and passive recreation. Over 2500 acres of open space acquired during my tenure. Just think of this. It amounts to 4 quare miles. Bigger than the town of Eastcheter and Tuckahoe combined. Peekskill is 4.4 sq. miles.
I want to return as Yorktown councilman so I can continue to make Yorktown remain great. I am satisfied that our taxes which amount to 15% of the tax bill have been reasonable during my tenure for the services which we provide in making our town great. No one likes to pay taxes and neither do I. However, the fact is that if want a full time police department in order to feel safe and secure, more open space for passive and active recreation, quality pools and work staff second to none. We have all of this in Yorktown. We must keep the taxes as low as possible. I am happy that I and my collegues on the board have done that. My financial model has been accepted by the current and past boards and the tax rates has been below or at the inflation rate. Can we do more? Absolutely. We have to look at more sharing of serives with our schools similar to what was done with Lakeland in sharing the cost of the track in Shrub Oak.
On land development my policy continues to be APPROPRIATE THINGS IN APPOPRIATE PLACES and INFRASTRUCTURE THEN DEVELOPMENT. For two long our planners policy has been MISERY LOVES COMPANY. The residents can be assured that I will hold strong to these development beliefs no matter how tricky the developers and their attorneys act. To the resident on Route Six who lost his beloved wife in an auto accident pulling into her driveway due to traffic can be assured that she did not die in vain. Thank you for your past support and looking forward to meeting the challenges in the future.
Finally, I must speak out about open government. As the only non democractic on the Town Baord, I have made it my position that I will speak out about closed government. While my collegues mean well there are sometimes a committment to political party directives. My function will be to point this out to the public whenever I see this type of closed governement practice. We saw this with the appointment of the Temporary Town Supervisor recently. No interviews, no discussions, no selection. I will continue to point out these occurrences if they occurr in the future if elected.
Thank yhou
Nicholas J. Bianco
Vote Tuesday November 6 on Row 10B, C, D or E.
JAMES MARTRANO:
(1) I am running for re-election because I love representing my constituents and I feel there are many things yet to accomplish. I have been honored to serve Yorktown as Councilman for the last 16 years and Deputy Supervisor for the last eight. I have tried to be a voice of reason on the town board, always putting people over politics. My ability to act in a bi partisan manner is evidenced by the fact that I have been appointed twice by a Supervisor of the opposite party to act as her deputy. I have always believed that there is no room for petty politics in public service. Now with a new supervisor taking office in January my experience and my bi partisan temperament will be needed more than ever to keep Yorktown going in the right direction.
(2) My record and that of the town board is one of achievement and progress. We know how difficult it is for our working middle class families to make ends meet with an ever rising tax load. We have therefore made tax stability our number one concern. During the last 12 years we have with award winning budgets kept the tax increases at or below the cost of living. We have instituted a Comprehensive Plan to chart Yorktown's future for the next 25 years. We have strengthened our environmental laws, dramatically cut density, purchased and preserved over 2200 acres of open space and advocated for sewers for homeowners who need them. We have made dramatic traffic improvements, including new turn lanes and speed control devices. I have worked closely with the police department to keep drugs out of our town, while helping to establish the Alliance for Safe Kids, protecting our kids from drugs and alcohol. I have led the effort to put resource officers in our schools and the result has been a dramatic reduction in drug problems among our teenagers. These are just some of the important developments. The bottom line is that Yorktown is going in the right direction and the future is bright!
(3) Taxes, traffic, and sewers continue to be on the minds my constituents. Every budget is examined line by line very carefully and if we find waste we cut it. We make every department justify any requested funded. If it can't be justified it is cut! While holding taxes down we have through diligent planning been able to maintain and in some respects expand our services to our taxpayers! We have more recreational opportunities for our youngsters than ever and we are building a state of the art baseball and soccer complex which will join our two new aquatic facilities. Our programs in our Parks and Recreation department are the best in Westchester and provide recreational choices for all ages. As for the future, we must look for ways to to cut the intolerable traffic jams (one idea is to establish a bypass on Route 6). I am working feverishly to bring to the board a proposal to establish a much needed and long overdue Senior Center. I believe with help from the federal, state and county, it can be done without a substantial financial impact to the town. We need to get our SPEDES permit increased and expand our sewage treatment plant to provide sewers for so many of residents that desperately need them! We need to develop more ways that we can join forces with the school districts to cut expenses through a school/town partnership and thereby reduce the school tax.
(4) I know from personal experience that our town board does a fantastic job in running a tight financial ship. We have a record to be proud of but we are never satisfied. We will continue to fight for our constituents by scrutinizing every budget request, demanding the most for the funds we do spend, and making sure that we always provide the best possible services. I believe that true tax reform will probably involve the use of sales tax or income tax to help reduce the property school tax burden than is driving so many of our citizens out of our community. In the meantime, we on the Yorktown Town Board will do our part by diligently examining every budget and continuing to make every decision with our taxpayers interest in mind! We must always put the town we love first so that we can make this a better place not only for us, but also our children and grandchildren!
Sincerely yours,
Yorktown Councilman Jim Martorano
VISHNU PATEL:
I enjoy helping people and I enjoy working for my community. A research scientist at IBM, I volunteer to teach in local school enrichment programs to make science exciting and fun. I helped build the Yorktown Gazebo and have planted beautiful flower displays all around town. I headed the Yorktown Museum.
My Priorities: Keep tax increases at or below the cost of living. Control development and protect Yorktown's environment and water supply. Acquire more open space...which will ensure that Yorktown will remain Green for our children and grandchildren. Find innovative solutions to control traffic and make our roads safer New technologies are very important these days to providing better and less expensive town services.
As a scientist, I can take the lead in making sure that Yorktown uses cutting edge technologies to improve services, make government more accessible through use of the internet, and save money for taxpayers.
Candidate for Yorktown councilman: Vishnubhai V. Patel 2289 Willoway Street Yorktown Hts. NY 10598 (914)-962-4563 H B. S. Chemistry and Physics M.S . Material Science 34 Years research scientist at IBM T. J. Watson Research. Yorktown Resident 34 years. Married 26 years toDipika Patel Two Children:Amy and Amit are graduates of Yorktown High School Amy graduated from West Point in 2005 and served in Iraq and next plans to deploy Afghanistan. Amit will be graduating from West Point in 2008.
Vishnu V. Patel
(914)945-2644,
Tie 862-2644
MARK DREXEL:
Thanks for the opportunity to communicate with your readers.
Elect J. Mark Drexel, Councilman - Town of Yorktown
The experience that I have accumulated in my professional, volunteer and personal life, coupled with my formal education affords me the tools and attributes that can assist the board with the challenge to maintain and improve the high level of town services and work to mitigate the challenges to the quality of life we expect in Yorktown. My priorities are to work as a team to address town issues, pursue innovative traffic solutions, encourage re-development & re-vitalization, improve the town’s appearance, and update the town’s emergency plan. Where I stand on the issues:
On Taxes
High taxes are a symptom of over spending. I’m in favor of reducing spending. Much like we all do in our every day lives. We eliminate those expenses that we deem not longer beneficial. Also efforts must be made to expand the tax base by using a thoughtful planning process.
On Traffic
Traffic problems stem from poor planning vision which leads to over development. I will introduce legislation that will clearly define the extent of future development. In the meantime I will utilize my engineering experience to pursue innovative traffic solutions.
On Environment
I will encourage the Town to provide education programs to the residents that encourage non-polluting steps for a healthy lawn and garden - while protecting our water and Introduce legislation to phase-out of pesticides on town property. I will hold protecting the wetlands as a top priority.
On Emergency response
I will lend my extensive experience in emergency management to assist in taking the town’s emergency response plan to the next level to better protect our residents and our children.
On Master plan
My motto is “Infrastructure then development. The master plan must clearly require that the infrastructure necessary to handle any development must be in first. I will support re-development & re-vitalization where the infrastructure already exists. The master plan is a living document with the visions that we must plan today with tomorrow in mind.
On Experience
“The experience that I have accumulated in my professional, volunteer and personal life, coupled with my formal education affords me the tools and attributes that can assist the board with the challenge to maintain and improve the high level of town services and work to mitigate the challenges to the quality of life we expect in Yorktown ”
On Open Space
I will pursue strengthening the local legislation to ensure existing open space is preserved and that the inventory of open space is expanded with in the town and region. Encouraging programs that educate the youth of the town about the need to preserve wildlife habitat will be a priority.
On Teamwork
I believe that leaders of our town must work as a team to address the key issues by pursuing innovative solutions that benefit the community as a whole. Listening… above all, is the first step to a productive Team and I’m committed as a Councilman to listen to the supervisor, my fellow Board members, the other elected officials, the Department Heads, the staff, the residents and business owners.
On Energy conservation
I will continue the town’s emphasis on energy conservation and efficiency programs. I will encourage the Town to educate the homeowner on weatherization, solar energy systems and publicize the financial programs that assist residents with the costs of home energy audits and to help pay for home energy efficiencies.
VOTE for DREXEL - Tuesday, November 6th
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********************THE PEEKSILL RACES******************************************
BILL SCHMIDT:
Dear Andy:
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to address the readers of your blog. I think that forums such as yours represent the best tradition of citizen involvement in government and politics that so many Americans proudly cherish. If I had to sum up why I believe our team is the best slate of candidates to lead Peekskill, I'd use 2 words: diversity and experience. We look like Peekskill and we are Peekskill! Mel Bolden, Milagros Martinez, and Selma Dias Stewart are all long time Peekskill residents who have been involved in the life of this city for a very long time. I also am a Peekskill native with 30 years of service and involvement in the community. We know the issues and we know the people of this great city. We also didn't make running for office our first civic deed but instead, we became active many years before we ever considered being in politics.
Because we know this city so well, we have taken clear and unambiguous positions on the major issues that face Peekskill, even the controversial ones. We think the voters are entitled to know where every candidate stands so they can make an informed choice on election day.
Here is our platform for moving Peekskill Forward.
On economic development, we want to complete the plans created for downtown and waterfront revitalization. That means working with Target to locate at, and clean up, the old industrial sites off Louisa St and not waste time forcing them to go to another location they don't want.
It also means bringing market rate housing to our downtown and waterfront areas that will also bring the type of residents who have the disposable income to support more retail stores and increase employment. These plans represent smart growth models used successfully in urban areas throughout the country by bringing in people who will live work and shop in the same location.
Helping those less fortunate has always been Peekskill's legacy. Its past time for other more wealthy communities in Westchester to be a part of that legacy as well, and start to do their fair share. We insist that the burden of social services and low income housing be accepted by all communities, wealthy and poor. That's why we also do not favor any more subsidized housing in the City of Peekskill and we believe that the homeless shelter can and should look throughout the entire county to find a new home. It does after all, serve homeless people throughout all of Westchester.
We also believe the rule of law applies to all. We do not favor a "sanctuary city" policy for Peekskill, which means that if our police arrest someone who is here illegally we will co-operate with all federal agencies in their apprehension and removal from our streets and our borders.
Regarding Eminent Domain, we don't make an artificial distinction between a government project and a private one. Government can also promote undesirable projects and shouldn't have any special powers to use eminent domain and force them on the public. We don't favor eminent domain unless it is being used to address serious problems of health and safety.
We can and should rebuild our city without using eminent domain wherever possible.
Our programs for redevelopment are also important because they guarantee the financial health of the city. Market rate developments pay full taxes and use less city services. That helps us keep our tax rates low and avoid more debt. Peekskill has worked hard to build up its financial reserves and hold taxe rates steady. It would be a big mistake to change those policies, (as our opponents want to do) and spend away our reserves on pet projects.
Our commitment to sound environmental policies like smart growth and cleanup of old industrial sites has earned me the endorsement of the League of Conservation Voters. The Westchester Hispanic Law Enforcement Association and the Teamsters International Local 456 have also endorsed me because sound fiscal policies protect city employee's health and pension benefits, as well as taxpayers and homeowners who are on fixed incomes.
Our complete platform is posted on GOPeekskill.com and peekskillfirst.net. I hope everyone will take the time to study our proposals because we think we strike the right balance for making Peekskill the best place to live that it possibly can be. If you share our vision we will be very grateful for your support on election day, Tuesday November 6th.
Sincerely
Bill Schmidt
Candidate for Peekskill Mayor
Republican, Independence, Conservative and Libertarian Parties
MEL BOLDEN:
My name is Mel Bolden and would like to continue to represent you… the citizens of Peekskill… on the Common Council. I have been on the council for 8 years (2 terms) and I find it on Honor to contribute… give back… to my community.
And this is MY community… born and raised and respected. My children are the 6th generation of Bolden’s in Peekskill. My family history runs deep… My grandfather was Peekskill’s first black police officer. My grandmother sat on boards from the Peekskill Area Health Center to the Field Library Board. My family members were founders of both Mount Olivet and Mt. Lebanon Baptists churches. The Walter Corney Gym is named after my uncle. My cousin is a former deputy Mayor of Peekskill. My father was one of the founders of Peekskill Flag Football league… I can go on and on and on… This is my family… this is my community.
As for my contributions…
I am a teacher of music for the Peekskill School District. My specialty is music technology and I am looking forward to getting into the new middle school building complete with my new music lab… but that’s another story.
I’m an active member and ex-captain of the Peekskill Fire Dept., a former EMT with the Peekskill Volunteer Ambulance Corps., a member and senior sound technician of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church. I am a board member of the Peekskill Education Foundation and Westchester Community Opportunity Program, Inc, (WestCOP).
I’m the former co-chairman of the Westchester County Youth Board, and currently serving on the West. Co. Reducing Youth Violence Committee.
This list goes on forever… my full resume is available online at http://www.peekskillgop.com/ or in the literature that floods your mailboxes during election time as always…
But in short, this is why I need your vote…
Investing in the downtown redevelopment:
This investment serves to attract and keep people in their communities/municipalities by making downtowns, shopping areas and business districts more inviting and accessible. I need your vote to continue this progress…
Keeping Taxes Low:
Peekskill is currently in the best financial shape ever. Two (2) years of back-to-back 0% tax increases and an A1 credit rating from Moody’s. Why? Because of the great revitalization plans Peekskill has had. I voted for Riverbend, Chapel Hill, Stop-N-Shop, the list goes on… And with a future of Target, Downtown and Waterfront Redevelopment in the works… the services will continue to increase while keeping the taxes low. I need your vote to continue this progress…
Recreation Services:
Most have been upgraded and improved… Lepore Park (with spray grounds), Franklin Park, Depew Park, Tompkins Park, Peekskill Stadium…
Youth Bureau:
It took some time, but we finally have a City Owned facility that we will be moving into soon.
The Artists District: One of the most successful plans that helped put Peekskill on the map… internationally. And it’s still growing… I need your vote to continue this progress…
To sum things up…
Peekskill needs Progress not Regress…
Many of you who are new to Peekskill are here by your choice… you probably could have moved anywhere… but due to the work I have contributed, you have chosen to live here.
For those of you who have lived in Peekskill for years… I have been honored and privileged to have your overwhelming continued support… And with that, I thank you… You know I’ve always put Peekskill (First) before politics…
JOE SCHUDER:
Andy,
I thought the best way for voters to decide on pulling the lever for me is to have them make a judgement on the answers to questions asked by voters in my door by door travels and by various journalists. It will give them an opportunity to know me better and my plans and hopes for Peekskill. Thanks for the opportunity to submit this to you and my Peekskill neighbors.
Joe Schuder
Candidate for Common Council
1. Why Run?
I am a recently retired business development executive who has worked for Fortune 500 companies, a high tech Silicon Valley company and beginning stage startup companies. As such, I did my research into various statistics about Peekskill. What I discovered both concerned me and at the same time motivated me. The fact is that for many years Peekskill has had no real job growth and remains far below the cities around us in family income. This did not fit with the City’s glowing reports of success. These chronic conditions coupled with our stalled and failed residential development projects convinced me that I wanted to run for City Council.
My motivation for running is to use my management and development business experience to help Peekskill achieve our long awaited success.
To this end, my plan will bring good paying jobs to Peekskill by focusing on business development in the downtown, riverfront and other sections of the city. I will include our artist and existing business communities in this new focus.
Create a reasonable residential growth plan that fits the culture and realities of Peekskill while encouraging middle income and new family units.
Will give immediate attention to resolving any issues with our current residential development partners to put us back on track or move forward with other alternatives.
Will expand our base of residential development partners and be sure they have the financial resources and management skills to deliver projects on time and successfully.
Will pursue river projects with business potential that will serve our own enjoyment and draw tourists to Peekskill.
Will institute a city/senior citizen panel to recommend the necessary steps to meet the facility and program needs of a quickly growing senior community.
I believe that the actions and plans I have outlined will result in a city where are citizens can live and work and create the only real foundation for stable city taxes. Being recently retired allows me the time to achieve my goals for Peekskill.
2. What is your personal experience?
I have spent my entire career as a successful business development executive managing the groups that sell, engineer, implement and service major technology installations for government and Fortune 500 companies. I have managed large groups of people with different skill sets and tasks as well as relationships with the top management of prospective and established clients. Having negotiated many contracts, I bring the necessary experience to insure good deals are made and problems are solved for the city.
I have the experience and discipline to help build a budget that stays within our revenue projections but provides for the salaries, services and maintenance needed to run a successful city. Adding additional revenues from a new and expanding business base are critical to financial success.
3. Other activities?
Currently I am working as a pro bono consultant. The project is a national call
center network coupling the center locations with adjoining living quarters for
Disabled Veterans. There are over 200,000 veterans deemed unemployable.
I am also serving as a second term board member for a family counseling center dedicated to serving those who cannot pay. I served on my condo board at Chapel Hill and I work as an outreach volunteer at my church. The program supplies and delivers food/ clothing to our sister parish in the South Bronx.
4. Quality of Life concerns?
My focus on business development coupled with a balanced residential plan will contribute to a better quality of life in Peekskill. I would also mount a volunteer initiative to secure corporate donations and various grant funds to build a computer center for our youth. The goals are to contribute to their overall knowledge of technology as part of their total education; to give our youth a place to constructively spend their time; and focus the community on participation in youth programs e.g. Artists could instruct in the use of computer graphics.
4. What about Taxes?
My plan to generate tax revenues via business development with balanced residential growth will create stable taxes on a long term basis. The plan works for the city and the schools by controlling service and infrastructure costs.
Joseph Schuder
Candidate for Peekskill
Common Council
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********************THE TOWN OF CORTLANT RACES*******************************
DR. RICHARD BECKER:
Andy,
Thank you for the opportunity to speak directly to your readers. As I've walked all over Cortlandt this past summer and autumn this is the same type of message that I keep hearing from people: They want to be able to speak to and hear from their Councilman. Unfortunately, there's no Councilman's phone numbers or office currently for the town residents to do that. It is a situation, I assure you, that I want to see changed.
People are also concerned about traffic, overdevelopment, and, of course, taxes. Town taxes in Cortlandt have been steady. But, as everyone knows, the school tax portions are out-of-control. It is easy for town officials to say that they don't have any control over school taxes. But I believe that moving towards a broader approach to shared services between the town and the school districts will bring all of our town's residents some relief. Pressure has to put on Albany as well, this fight must be fought on all fronts.
Overdevelopment only adds to our tax burden. The taxes levied from new homes simply do not equal the municipal and school expenditures to support them. Cortlandt is one of the last frontiers in Westchester's semi-rural way of life. I do not want to see Cortlandt or any other part of Northern Westchester go the way of the southern part of the county because of overdevelopment. The current approach in Cortlandt to development and green space is to celebrate victories of opportunity that come about in a piecemeal fashion. I want to fundamentally change the way we look at development in Cortlandt. By capping the number of building permits issued annually at 60% of the current amount and requiring that all parcels over 5 acres donate half of the acreage to green space when developed, we can make proactive strides to protecting out town and quality of life. We need to act, not react.
So I encourage all of your readers: Act! On Tuesday, go vote.
Rich Becker
Candidate for Councilman, Town of Cortlandt
JOSEPH C. CERRETO:
I am running for reelection to the Cortlandt Town Board and heard aboutyour bi-partisan posting.I have attached a brief statement for posting, and would appreciate it ifyou would be so kind as to put it on your blog. If you have troubleopening it, please let me know and I'll try to resend in a different format
Thanks!
Joe Cerreto
1. Why I am seeking re-election
I am seeking my third full term as Cortlandt Councilman. During my entire time on this board, my colleagues and I have acted in a bi-partisan effort to improve the town. We have been tremendously innovative in every aspect of town government. We have engaged in regional/intergovernmental projects which avoided duplication of services and saved millions of dollars of taxpayer money (The Northern Westchester Joint Waterworks is but one example, involving Cortlandt, Yorktown and Somers). We have purchased over 3,000 acres of open space and are about to close on a deal for the purchase of another 100+ acres. We have advocated for our Veterans in lobbying to keep the Montrose VA hospital open. We have enacted a series of building moratoria while we revised the Town’s Master plan and are now implementing those policies. We just received an award from Westchester County for leading the county in our recycling efforts. We are probably the only town to meet the County’s affordable housing goals. We have begun looking into enacting a traffic overlay district (which looks at a regional traffic impact of a particular development) was well as a waterfront revitalization district. Cortlandt is unique in that it is one of the few places where one can access the Hudson River without crossing railroad tracks. We have dramatically improved the entire waterfront in Verplanck and obtained literally millions of dollars in grants to improve sidewalks, pedestrian trails, etc. We led the way in developing public/private partnerships to purchase open space (Hillpoint) while at the same time not hesitating to defend our planning board in court when developers sued over denials of projects. We adopted a FAR (Floor Area Ratio) to prevent the building of “McMansions” on undersized lots. We began replacing our gasoline powered auto fleet with hybrids. We received a grant of $75,000 from NYPA to install solar panels on the roof of town hall and had an energy audit of all town buildings done by NYPA to make all our building energy efficient. We instituted the paramedic program which has been hugely successful at a minimal cost to the town by being innovative - we sent the EMT to school to become a paramedic in exchange for 18 moths of service to the program. And all this was done with a 0% town tax increase on average.
I could go on and on about what we have accomplished. However, suffice it to say that I want to continue to work with this board to develop new and exciting ways to keep Cortlandt an affordable place to live and work.
2. My government experience is extensive and not just on this board. I have been the Town Attorney for several municipalities in Putnam and Westchester Counties. I am currently the principal law secretary for a Justice of the Supreme Court, Appellate Division, located in Manhattan. In addition, I am a Colonel in the US Army Reserve and command a unit located in the Bronx, consisting of 104 JAGs and paralegals. I served a tour in Iraq where I was the Senior Legal Advisor to the US War Crimes Investigation Team. During that tour, I was award the Bronze Star medal, Global War on Terrorism medal in addition to other awards.
3. Quality of life
This is the key to everything we do on this town board. If you look at everything listed in item one, which is just a representative sample of what we’ve done during my time on the board, you can see that everything is geared toward quality of life. We have a recreation program that is second to none. We recently added additional recreation fields to the town inventory of sports property. We want to continue to work of traffic flow issues (traffic is going to be there no matter what we do; the question is how to make it flow efficiently with minimal impact on residential neighborhoods). We recently installed a traffic roundabout at the intersection of Westbrook Drive and Oregon Road. This was an intersection that had 5 roads haphazardly coming to a marginally functional intersection. By installing this roundabout, we created a smooth flow of traffic that eliminated the back-ups and dangerous situation this created. I want to continue to lobby the state for a new intersection between Rte 9 and 9A to take some of the traffic from Route 9A. We successfully got DOT approval and funding to improve the intersection of Lafayette Ave and Route 202 and build traffic turn lanes for the Hudson Valley Hospital Center. At Route 6 near Jacobs Hill, we made traffic improvements for the safety of the senior complex recently build in that area. In terms of public safety, we are the only town out of the 900 towns in New York State to have its own emergency coordinator. Jeff Tacks works closing with state and county officials in planning for everything from hurricanes to other emergencies. We have our own emergency center and have used it when necessary, most recently during the hot spell this past summer to distribute dry ice to those who lost power and as a shelter for those who needed to cool down while the electricity was out. So quality of life is foremost on the list of priorities for the town.
4. Taxes
As I noted above, during my tenure on the board, we have, on average, not raised the town portion of the tax bill. Unfortunately, we have no control over the village, county and school tax components. My opponent doesn’t seem to understand that, while we all want lower school taxes, the town board has absolutely no control, by state law, over school budgets and taxes. We have offered to the school districts the use of our comptroller and offered to work with both villages to share services to eliminate duplicitous services. We have just recently come to an agreement with the Village of Buchanan to use our planner to assist them in their projects so they don’t have to hire their own planner. We have in the past, “lent” our building inspector to the Village of Buchanan while they were without the services of their own. In this way and many other ways, we have controlled taxes. We have been tremendously successful in obtaining grants for projects and generally purchase vehicles from our budget surplus, thus not bonding for those types of purchases. Our bond rating is the highest for a town so on those occasions when we do have to bond (for example, to purchase our town garage) we do so at favorable rates, thus keeping costs down.
I have been endorsed by the Sierra Club, The Journal News and the North County News. My experience on the board speaks for itself. I urge you to visit my website http://www.votecerreto.com/ to learn more.
DANIEL F. McCARTHY:
Please accept the following for inclusion in your Election Blog. I have also attached the same statement as a separate Word document in the event this in necessary.
Thank you.
Daniel F. McCarthyThe McCarthy
Law Firm, P.C.1Croton Point AvenueCroton on Hudson, NY 10520
(914) 271-2828
(914) 271-2880-fax
Dear Town of Cortlandt Voter:
I am running for the position of Town Justice in Cortlandt, and respectfully ask for your vote on Tuesday, November 6, 2007.
I have been practicing law for 22 years, and have had the privilege of serving as a judge in the Village of Buchanan, where I served as the Acting Village Justice for four (4) years. Serving as a judge has given me invaluable experience and insight into dealing with the criminal and civil justice issues that confront our community.
As the Acting Village Justice, I presided over all aspects of the Village Court, including conducting criminal jury trials, civil and small claim trials and traffic trials. Unlike my opponent who has no judicial experience, I have had to make decisions as a Judge concerning bail applications, sentences and pleas, all of which impact multiple phases of the criminal justice system. I am keenly aware of the impact a fair, impartial and firm jurist can have on a community, and the need to run an orderly and firm court, with the goal of engendering respect for the law and the institution of the Court. These experiences have made me uniquely qualified to serve the residents of the Town of Cortlandt as Town Justice.
I am a lifelong resident of the Town of Cortlandt, and have been married to Mitra for 19 years. We have four wonderful children, Jackie (15), Megan (13), Molly (13) and Jimmy (8).
I have for the past eight (8) years served as a Sponsor and Assistant Coach to numerous Town of Cortlandt Youth Soccer and Basketball teams, as well as the Hudson Valley Lacrosse Association for the Cortlandt Team, 3rd – 4th Grade Boys/Girls Team, and 5th-6th Grade Girls Team. I am involved in charity fundraising, serving as a Board Member of the Masquerade Ball Committee for The Children’s Village, Dobbs Ferry, New York, and am a former member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 67. I am also a graduate of Hendrick Hudson High School,
I have had the benefit and privilege of practicing law with my father, Daniel A. McCarthy for the past 17 years. As many may know, my father Daniel A. McCarthy has served with honor and distinction as the Town Justice in Cortlandt for the past 30 years. He has imparted a great deal of his experience and wisdom to me during the time that we have worked together. My father is extremely proud of his public service as Town Justice and is grateful to the residents of the Town of Cortlandt who placed their trust in him, and allowed him the opportunity to serve our community.
My background and judicial experience make me the most qualified candidate for the position of Cortlandt Town Justice, and if elected I will dedicate myself to administering justice in a fair, firm and impartial manner.
Thank you for your consideration.
Respectfully,
Daniel F. McCarthy
Cortlandt Town Justice Candidate
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********************PUTNAM VALLEY TOWN RACES*******************************
ROBERT TENDY:
Candidate for Putnam Valley Town Supervisor:
Our town government is in an unprecedented municipal crisis. Over the past two years, this is what has occurred:
1. Democratic Supervisor and party co-chair suing the town;
2. Outrageous salary increases for Democratic committee co-chairwoman masquerading as a "confidential aide to the Supervisor";
3. Condemnation by the ethics board of both for their actions;
4. Thousands of dollars in unpaid legal fees as a result of the Democratic Supervisor and his "confidential aide/girlfriend" suing the town;
5. Two years of talk regarding issues that went nowhere, but cost the town hundreds of thousands in fees: moratorium (shelved); health coverage for domestic partners (curious that two new Democratic Board members had a personal interest in this--but it was shelved as a result of public outcry); two nuclear power resolutions that our town attorney had to draft at our expense; studies involving outdated solar panels which would have cost the town over $50,000 thousand dollars and would have resulted in no increased revenue;
6. The highest budget increases in the past fifteen years-at least.
The list goes on.
Our town needs to get back on track and really tackle the quality of life issues that concern our residents and work to get real property tax reform from Albany. I will hold fellow board members accountable for work they are assigned to do--they will have to earn their money, and I don't care what party they are from. Town hall will become and open and accessible place to our residents, and their will be swift follow through on issues.
Recently the Journal News and the North County News gave me their endorsement. Here are quotes from the articles:
From the Journal News endorsement, Sunday, October 28:
New leadership is desperately needed in the Putnam Valley supervisor's seat, and Robert Tendy, a Republican, is our choice for the job.
He advocates a pragmatic, Putnam Valley-style approach to development: a small business district in the Oregon Corners area. We endorsed Tendy, an attorney, for his leadership potential and experience when he ran against Democrat Sam Davis two years ago. As far as we can tell, neither Tendy nor Putnam Valley's most pressing issues have changed much since then.
From the North County News endorsement, Thursday, November 1:
Putnam Valley needs people in charge who will put zoning and regulations in place that will maintain the town’s rural character but also increase commerce… Bob Tendy is a no-nonsense leader who promises to get things done. He wants to give each board member assignments and projects and hold them accountable for their work on projects at board meetings. We like the sound of that. His opponent, Wendy Whetsel, is not as experienced with municipal law.
I'm thankful for the endorsements, but mindful of an obligation: town government exists to help the people in the town. That's the first obligation. I'm committed to this task of bringing responsive and professional management to our town.
Don't forget to vote! Bob Tendy
ERIC HARRIS:
ERIC LAMAR HARRIS, ESQ.
Office/Cell: (914) 720-3996
P.O. BOX 454
Fax (845) 528-1191
LAKE PEEKSKILL
Perdiemattorneypage.com
NEW YORK 10537
Elharrisesq@verizon.net
To: Andy Bazzo
Re: Eric Lamar Harris, Esq. –Corrections/Comments to North County News Election Section 2007.
Date: November 2, 2007
Andy,
I thank you for providing a forum through which candidates may correct or add to their profiles presented within the North County News Election Section 2007, while making any final comments before Election Day 2007.
Correction/Comment 1. The “performing pro bono small claims work in the Bronx” comment within my profile is a bit misstated. My full comment to Mr. Boisi was that I have been a pro bono Arbitrator for the City of New York in the Small Claims Court, Bronx County.
Correction/Comment 2. Mr. Boisi asked me “why do you think you are the best man for the job”. In reply I noted my 20 plus years of court experience as a litigation attorney, experience as an Arbitrator for the City of New York, almost daily appearances in the various courts within the New York State Court System (not as the profile stated that I had been going to court every day for 20 years), my service upon two separate attorney grievance committees (9th Judicial District and Westchester County Bar Association), a former President of the Association of Black Lawyers of Westchester County, Inc., desire to perform public service and my goal to run an efficient court where all sides are listened to, treated with respect and their cases decided fairly.
I mentioned that I would like to modify the court calendar by having more than one appearance time for all of the cases on the court’s calendar. This I believe would create less of a time burden upon the people appearing before the court that day.
Correction/Comment 3. I did not state “I’m the best man for the job”. I did state that I would do the job well. I have enough humility and common sense not to make such a comment and will let the voters decide that issue.
Correction/Comment 4. The comment ”this is not a knock on how the court is run now, but I would like to make a few modifications to get the job done” is attributed to me. This was not my statement but rather an amalgamation of about 3-4 separate comments. I have been in too many courtrooms where working people and those with children have had to sit around all morning waiting for their cases to be called. I think that modifying the calendar would help prevent this problem, which I believe is system wide.
I must stress at this point that I made no comment upon Judge Di Carlo or the operation of his court.
Correction/Comment 5. For the record, I do not have two teenage daughters as stated within the NCN profile. I have one daughter and a young man in college, who has not expressed any desire to modify his gender and become my second teenage daughter.
Comment/Advice. The reporter Mr. Boisi and I had a great deal of difficulty contacting each other. Our discussion finally took place via cellular telephone while I was parked along a bad reception/send area of Route 6 in Rockland or Orange County. This probably accounts for any reporting problems that I have with the content of my profile. Advice: never conduct an interview in such a setting.
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MESSAGE FROM PUTNAM VALLEY SUPERVISOR SAM DAVIS:
Dear Andy,
I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to respond to Mr. Tendy.
Bob you once said "I could be wrong." You were so right. Sadly you have been a Councilman for five years. Your latest post illustrates why you are completely unsuited for that office, no less Town Supervisor. (Unfortunately, your opponent has also shown herself to be equally unsuited for the position).
There is no municipal crisis in Putnam Valley, but for the last two years you have been trying to convince our residents that there is.
1. You blatantly used ethics and politics to pursue an issue that as an attorney you should have known was not genuine. There was no ethics crisis. There was no illegality, impropriety or unethical behavior. Supreme Court Justice Lippman so ordered. This has been your biggest issue for the last two years and it is your deceitful invention.
2. Another oft told lie. You are well aware that there was no outrageous salary increase because you set the salary along with the rest of the board before I took office. Likewise, the current board will set the salary for the next Supervisor's aide. Last year, this board, in my absence, cut the salary by $10,000. Obviously, I didn't set the original salary. If I could have done that, the salary would not have been cut.
3. The Ethics Board upheld the salary level and did not recommend an action.
4. Yet another lie. There are no unpaid legal fees, even for the conference that your so called "ethics attorney" had with John Zarcone. And by the way, it was your decision to hire an attorney at more than twice what it would have cost for our Town Attorney to litigate the case-$175/hr. instead of $75/hr. And you have the nerve to say that you are safeguarding the taxpayers dollars?
5. I hardly know where to begin with this one. First, none of the things you mentioned, even in total, cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees. That is an utter lie. Second, as you well know, I had nothing to do with the domestic partner health coverage issue. I had no stake in it. It was introduced by Councilwoman Keresey. However, you did vote to give health coverage to part time elected officials so that you could get coverage - only elected officials, not other employees of the Town. Apparently you believe that elected officials (at least some of them) are more important than "regular" people. Third, our Town attorney did not draft nuclear power resolutions. They were provided to us. Moreover, had he done so, it would have cost the Town nothing as he is not paid per resolution drafted. Four, the solar panels would have been the most current technology and would have cost the Town $23,800, not $50,000.
And then they would have saved money by reducing our future electric bills. Your lack of information and understanding, and your facility at deception are frightening. You still have time to reverse your ill thought out decision on the solar panels.
6. You are also well aware that the high budget increases were largly a function of poor planning and budgeting during the years you served before I was elected. Why don't you admit it and tell the truth for a change? You might find it cathartic. You voted for the budget last year, in my absence. You could have changed it as much as you wanted. You did make some poorly thought out changes that will cost our residents down the line. But you're only interested in what you can say now. The harm you do to the future..., well you'll find some way to explain it away then. You have been irresponsible for five budgets. What is it you want to cut? Maybe you should start with the outrageous videographer salary.
And by the way, after making a big fuss about my teaching nine days in January of '06, you've promised to cut your law practice to 15%.
Bob, you have not been accountable or accessible for five years. Why would we believe that that will change?
Sam Davis
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FYI: EVENT MONDAY 11/05/07 AT SUSAN'S RESTURANT ON N. DIVISION ST.
The Big Bang Jazz Gang Big Band will perform at Susans Restaurant &Club starting at 8:00 & going to 10:30.The band plays the music of Mingus, Monk, Coltrane, Parker & otherModern Jazz Giants.The band is:Ben Newsome, Dale DiMarco, David Savitzky, David CasT, Jim Perry,reeds; Howard Levy, Joe Bacci and John Hahn, trombones; Fred Jacobs,John Leonard trumpets; Mike Cull, keyboards; Rob Kopec, bass;Bob Meyer, drums & cymbals.
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Admission is FREE! COME ON OUT! BRING THE KIDS; THERE'S NO SCHOOLTues. & VOTE!!!!
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Please come in a help support live creative music in Peekskill,Westchester, Rockland & Orange Counties & environs where so many greatmusicians now live.++Thanks.*******************************************
Please check out Susans website below to see all the other music thathappens each week at the club.
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Susans is located at12 North Division StreetPeekskill, NY 10566914-737-6624http://www.susansinpeekskill.com/Thanks, Bobhttp://www.bobmeyermusic.com/
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FYI: FREE CONCERT COMMING UP IN PEEKSILL:
Hey Folks,
I thought I would pass this on. If you can make it, I guarantee you will be impressed. These are world class players playing in our backyard. Hope to see you there.
Andy
Hi Andy,
Don't miss out on this Free Jazz Concert at
Ford Piano
in Downtown Peekskill
Friday, November 9 at 6:00-9:00PM
Featuring
Mike Longo & Andy Laverne
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THIS WEEKS "IN MY OPINION COLUMN" IN THE NCN:
Dear Readers:
This week I discuss the continuing sage of the Old Stone Church. You can read my column on this topic exclusively in this weeks NORTH COUNTY NEWS on sale now. I am worth the seventy-five cents. Look for my column IN MY OPINION(page 26) in the editorial section. Better yet as this column is exclusive to the North County News on a regular basis and will be covering the local political scene, take out a subscription. Click on the North County News link below and go to Subscribe. Between this blog and The North County News you will have all the information to make a vote based on substance.
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FYI: ATOM TAXI INC. AIRPORT SERVICE:
Dear Readers:
This gives me a chance to plug my business ATOM TAXI INC. Instead of the headache of trying to find Airport parking, we do Airport Service to The Westchester County Airport(and ALL other airports) 24/7. Just call 1(914)879-6121 and my partner Tommy, will be glad to take you in our Airport Taxi. You will also be provided with a free copy of your local paper of record The North County News. If this is a business trip we also provide a professional receipt, just tell Tommy at the time of booking. The cost of a one-way trip to the Westchester County Airport is seventy dollars. To LaGuardia Airport the cost is Ninety-four dollars which includes all tolls. The cost to JFK and Newark Airports is one hundred-twenty-five dollars which also includes all tolls. We do not take credit cards, sorry.
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E-MAIL ME WITH YOUR COMMENTS:
Dear Readers:
It has come to my attention the difficulty in posting a comment on this blog. If you wish to comment, e-mail me at the link posted below, putting "Manifesto Reader" in the subject matter, and I will "cut and Paste" your comments myself. If you DO NOT wish your comments posted, but just wish to communicate with me, please make your wishes known in the e-mail.
LINKS: atom_taxi@yahoo.com(as this a yahoo address make sure you put an underscore (-) between atom and taxi)
For immediate reply: atomtaxi@aol.com
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SITES TO LINK TO:
ON THE OTHER HAND W/ FORMER PEEKSKILL COUNCILMAN SCHMIDT: http://peekskillperspectives.blogspot.com/
YORKTOWN COUNCILMAN NICK BIANCO: http://www.electbianco.com/
PLAN PUTNAM: planputnam@googlegroups.com/
PEEKSKILL GUARDIAN: http://peekskillguardian.blogspot.com/
NORTH COUNTY NEWS: http://northcountynews.com/
THE JOURNAL NEWS: http://thejournalnews.com/
PEEKSKILL DEMOCRATS: http://www.peekskilldems.com/
PEEKSKILLREPUBLICANS:http://peekskillgop.com/
YORKTOWN CANDIDATE FOR SUPERVISOR DON PETERS: http://www.donpetersforyorktown.com/
YORTOWN CANDIDATE FOR SUPERVISOR ROSE MARIE PANIO: http://www.rosemariepanio.com/
PUTNAM VALLEY CANDIDATE FOR SUPERVISOR BOB TENDY:http://www.bobtendyforsupervisor.com/
PEEKSKILL FIRST: http://www.peekskillfirst.net/
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CABLE SHOWS TO WATCH
ON POINT ON PEEKSKILL: Every Tuesday at 8PM channel 15 (Peekskill only)
Hosted by:DARREN RIGGER
DON PETERS AND YORKTOWN: Every Tuesday at 10PM channel 74
Hosted by: DON PETERS
YORKTOWN WATCHDOG: Every Friday at 9:30 PM on channel 74
Hosted By: ED CHIFFON
LEGISLATORS REPORT: Saturday and Sunday at various times on chanel 20
Hosted By: COUNCILMEN NICK BIANCO AND LOU CAMPISI
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EDITOR'S NOTE:All articles re-printed in this blog from the North County News are with the permission of Bruce Apar Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
BAZZO 11/03/07
The following posts are from those running for office who wish to say one more thing before Tuesday. I thank them for believing you are important to them. Remember to vote Tueday November 6, these candidates have worked hard for your vote, they met you half way. It is up to you on Tuesday to meet them the other half and vote. It is a right people have died for. Your vote does count, especiallly in a local election as turn out is generally low. It will not take much for you to influence this election.
So Tuesday November 6, exercise your franchise and vote early and often. For those who by chance disagree with my choices(see last weeks post), your chance to vote is Wednesday. Also next year, when a candidate uses a lawn sign, please be more specific, a number of people have asked me "What office is Caldwell Banker running for"?
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********************WESTCHESTER LEGISLATOR"S RACE***************************
DOMENEC VOLPE:
Dear Readers:
Good morning-
The time has come for voters to speak their piece. After countless mailers, press releases, literature drops, debates, blogs, etc... the candidates platforms should be clear. Typically while the candidates and their committees start out on a high level many voters are not paying attention to these local races until recently. Now candidates are tiring because of the countless hours put into these races and voters are beginning to focus.
There is a democratic process and a privilege in the United States that many citizens seem to have forgotten- the right to vote. Our last election saw only 31% of registered voters come out to vote. I have always said voting is what makes our country great, since there can be a revolution without one shot being fired! Think about it -- look around the world and see how governments are being overthrown and people face real time crisis . Why? Dissatisfaction.
If you feel our elected leaders should be more responsive to our concerns, be more visible not just during election campaigns but everyday life, and be willing to take responsibility when there are mistakes made then please go out and cast your vote. They say campaigns are about issues and elections are about people. I hope that I have shown not just within the past six months of this campaign but my entire life in and around the Peekskill/Cortlandt/Yorktown area that my involvement with many organizations, stances on many issues, hard work, family business reputation and countless volunteer hours for many different causes will give you the reason to vote for me on election day. Think of this-- Vote on Tuesday November 6 and at least say I voted for her/him because.... rather than pick up a newspaper and find out the person you felt who was more in line with your thinking lost by only 2 or 3 votes.
Respectfully
Domenic Volpe
Westchester County Legislator
Candidate- District 1
GEORGE OROS:
Soon, you as a voter, will have a choice to make. This election is not about party labels or what is going on in Washington. It is about who can best represnt you in the $1.7 billion dollar operation that is County governmnet. If you examine the record closely, view the debates availabel on the North County News Website, and put personality and party aside there is only one person best suited to be our County Legislator: GEORGE OROS.
He has experience and ability to work in a bi partisan fashion to meet the challenges ahead. George Oros has a track record that shows. Going beyond the Oros record is true vision of what is necessary to get our County and the Legislative District moving in the right direction. Below is the George Oros platform in breif
2007 PLATFORM IN BRIEF
On Spending and Taxes:
There is no more important issue to residents than property taxes. The ever increasing tax burden in our County is rapidly driving out the middle class. Over the last 12 years I have dedicated much time and effort fighting unnecessary spending and rising property taxes.
· Propose 2008 County hiring freeze
· Introduced $20 million in spending cuts for 2007
· Establish Public/Private Partnership to eliminate waste and duplication in a form similar to the Federal Military Base Closing Commission wherein at least 30% of the Partnership’s recommendation must be immediately implemented.
· Continue County consolidation which in 2007 resulted in a 44% decrease in the County Sewer Tax in the First Legislative District
· Push for enactment of the reforms introduced this session to increase accountability and reducing the powers of the non elected Board of Acquisition and Contract.
· Establish an independent Office of Inspector General with full subpoena powers.
· Eliminate sales tax on home heating oil and natural gas used for heating homes.
· Repeal or spread to entire County the 2005 increase in the County Sales tax (Oros voted no on this increase because it was applied only outside the four large cities, thereby making District One residents pay unfair share)
On Public Safety
The first right of every citizen is the peace of mind of living in a safe neighborhood. I will continue to support law enforcement with the proper resources to do the job right.
· Enact County Law forbidding registered sex offenders and pedophiles from living within 2,000 feet of parks, schools and playgrounds.
· Continue County Police Northern Command Center
· Maintain security at Indian Point and require Independent Safety Assessment.
· Provide an exemption on the Auto Use Tax for active volunteer emergency responders.
· Expand training facility for public safety officers.
· Reduce fees charged to local law enforcement agencies by the County for use of the target practice range.
On Youth
Today they chair a Youth Bureau meeting or lead their peers in a discussion on how to avoid drugs; soon, they will be the mayor or town supervisor and lead this community. Our youth need to know, every day, that they are important and that we are there to support them.
· Increased funding for the Peekskill Youth Bureau
· Expand the used computer program to disadvantaged youth.
· Youth Summit to promote summer and part time employment opportunities for youth.
· Tie County IDA incentives give to business to a requirement to hire at risk and disadvantaged youth.
· Increase County/local partnerships in upgrading parks and recreational facilities.
On the Environment
There are few things that comprise our quality of life more than the air we breathe and the water we drink.
· Continue progress of preserving open space.
· Stepped up County assistance in sewering the Peekskill Watershed.
· Make certain sewage diversion never happens.
· Ensure that future use under the upcoming operation agreement at Charles Point Refuse Recovery facility is clean, safe and causes no harm to public safety or the environment.
· Establish a Green Housing Implementation Fund to spur development of “green homes” and encouraging energy use from renewable sources.
· Fulfill pledge to close Sprout Brook Ash Pit in 2009 and that proper monitoring remains in place.
On Affordable Housing
Westchester remains one of the most desirable areas to live and work, yet many who grew up here are forced to make their homes elsewhere due to a lack of housing options.
· Prime way to make housing affordable is to reduce property taxes.
· Establish County Down Payment Revolving Fund for qualified first time home buyers.
· Just as the IDA waives sales and mortgage tax on business develop, waive county mortgage tax, construction sales tax and first five years of County property taxes on affordable units.
On Senior Citizens
Our senior citizens have paid their dues and are a valuable asset to our community. Their wealth of experience and knowledge should be better utilized.
· Expand County’s Legacy Program to include recreational facilities designed with senior citizens in mind.
ONE MORE ITEM FROM GEORGE OROS:
Dear Yorktown Voter:
Election Day is Tuesday and though I don't live in Yorktown, I hav come to know a candidate running for Town Board who you should vote for on Tuesday. Please join me in supporting J. Mark Drexel in his bid for Yorktown Councilman.
Mark has impressed me with his solid commitment to listen and act on behalf of the Yorktown community. He and his family have been active residents of Yorktown for 25 years. Mark has a proven track record of leadership as a Yorktown School District Trustee, a Boy Scout Leader and soccer coach. His over 25 years of corporate experience will prove invaluable to the Yorktown Council.
Mark’s professional, volunteer and school board experience make him the right candidate to represent you and improve Yorktown.
I urge you to vote on Tuesday, November 6th for J. Mark Drexel, Yorktown Councilman.
Sincerely,
George Oros
Westchester County Legislator
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********************THE YORKTOWN COUNCIL RACES*******************************
NICK BIANCO:
I would first like to thank Andy for allow candidates to get in the last word on his blog and for his kind words concerning me.
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What makes a town great? To me, a great town must have a high quailty of life. Residents must feel safe and secure, and have wonderful public spaces and parks in which to visit with their families. I believe we have this in Yorktown. We have a great police department while some of our neighbor towns have none. We have garbage pick up two times a week while some of our neighbor towns have one time or private carters. We have a highway department second to none and the envy of our neighbors. When snow comes how relieved are we when we reach Yorktown and see blacktop on our roads. We have a state of art pools and both active and passive recreation. Over 2500 acres of open space acquired during my tenure. Just think of this. It amounts to 4 quare miles. Bigger than the town of Eastcheter and Tuckahoe combined. Peekskill is 4.4 sq. miles.
I want to return as Yorktown councilman so I can continue to make Yorktown remain great. I am satisfied that our taxes which amount to 15% of the tax bill have been reasonable during my tenure for the services which we provide in making our town great. No one likes to pay taxes and neither do I. However, the fact is that if want a full time police department in order to feel safe and secure, more open space for passive and active recreation, quality pools and work staff second to none. We have all of this in Yorktown. We must keep the taxes as low as possible. I am happy that I and my collegues on the board have done that. My financial model has been accepted by the current and past boards and the tax rates has been below or at the inflation rate. Can we do more? Absolutely. We have to look at more sharing of serives with our schools similar to what was done with Lakeland in sharing the cost of the track in Shrub Oak.
On land development my policy continues to be APPROPRIATE THINGS IN APPOPRIATE PLACES and INFRASTRUCTURE THEN DEVELOPMENT. For two long our planners policy has been MISERY LOVES COMPANY. The residents can be assured that I will hold strong to these development beliefs no matter how tricky the developers and their attorneys act. To the resident on Route Six who lost his beloved wife in an auto accident pulling into her driveway due to traffic can be assured that she did not die in vain. Thank you for your past support and looking forward to meeting the challenges in the future.
Finally, I must speak out about open government. As the only non democractic on the Town Baord, I have made it my position that I will speak out about closed government. While my collegues mean well there are sometimes a committment to political party directives. My function will be to point this out to the public whenever I see this type of closed governement practice. We saw this with the appointment of the Temporary Town Supervisor recently. No interviews, no discussions, no selection. I will continue to point out these occurrences if they occurr in the future if elected.
Thank yhou
Nicholas J. Bianco
Vote Tuesday November 6 on Row 10B, C, D or E.
JAMES MARTRANO:
(1) I am running for re-election because I love representing my constituents and I feel there are many things yet to accomplish. I have been honored to serve Yorktown as Councilman for the last 16 years and Deputy Supervisor for the last eight. I have tried to be a voice of reason on the town board, always putting people over politics. My ability to act in a bi partisan manner is evidenced by the fact that I have been appointed twice by a Supervisor of the opposite party to act as her deputy. I have always believed that there is no room for petty politics in public service. Now with a new supervisor taking office in January my experience and my bi partisan temperament will be needed more than ever to keep Yorktown going in the right direction.
(2) My record and that of the town board is one of achievement and progress. We know how difficult it is for our working middle class families to make ends meet with an ever rising tax load. We have therefore made tax stability our number one concern. During the last 12 years we have with award winning budgets kept the tax increases at or below the cost of living. We have instituted a Comprehensive Plan to chart Yorktown's future for the next 25 years. We have strengthened our environmental laws, dramatically cut density, purchased and preserved over 2200 acres of open space and advocated for sewers for homeowners who need them. We have made dramatic traffic improvements, including new turn lanes and speed control devices. I have worked closely with the police department to keep drugs out of our town, while helping to establish the Alliance for Safe Kids, protecting our kids from drugs and alcohol. I have led the effort to put resource officers in our schools and the result has been a dramatic reduction in drug problems among our teenagers. These are just some of the important developments. The bottom line is that Yorktown is going in the right direction and the future is bright!
(3) Taxes, traffic, and sewers continue to be on the minds my constituents. Every budget is examined line by line very carefully and if we find waste we cut it. We make every department justify any requested funded. If it can't be justified it is cut! While holding taxes down we have through diligent planning been able to maintain and in some respects expand our services to our taxpayers! We have more recreational opportunities for our youngsters than ever and we are building a state of the art baseball and soccer complex which will join our two new aquatic facilities. Our programs in our Parks and Recreation department are the best in Westchester and provide recreational choices for all ages. As for the future, we must look for ways to to cut the intolerable traffic jams (one idea is to establish a bypass on Route 6). I am working feverishly to bring to the board a proposal to establish a much needed and long overdue Senior Center. I believe with help from the federal, state and county, it can be done without a substantial financial impact to the town. We need to get our SPEDES permit increased and expand our sewage treatment plant to provide sewers for so many of residents that desperately need them! We need to develop more ways that we can join forces with the school districts to cut expenses through a school/town partnership and thereby reduce the school tax.
(4) I know from personal experience that our town board does a fantastic job in running a tight financial ship. We have a record to be proud of but we are never satisfied. We will continue to fight for our constituents by scrutinizing every budget request, demanding the most for the funds we do spend, and making sure that we always provide the best possible services. I believe that true tax reform will probably involve the use of sales tax or income tax to help reduce the property school tax burden than is driving so many of our citizens out of our community. In the meantime, we on the Yorktown Town Board will do our part by diligently examining every budget and continuing to make every decision with our taxpayers interest in mind! We must always put the town we love first so that we can make this a better place not only for us, but also our children and grandchildren!
Sincerely yours,
Yorktown Councilman Jim Martorano
VISHNU PATEL:
I enjoy helping people and I enjoy working for my community. A research scientist at IBM, I volunteer to teach in local school enrichment programs to make science exciting and fun. I helped build the Yorktown Gazebo and have planted beautiful flower displays all around town. I headed the Yorktown Museum.
My Priorities: Keep tax increases at or below the cost of living. Control development and protect Yorktown's environment and water supply. Acquire more open space...which will ensure that Yorktown will remain Green for our children and grandchildren. Find innovative solutions to control traffic and make our roads safer New technologies are very important these days to providing better and less expensive town services.
As a scientist, I can take the lead in making sure that Yorktown uses cutting edge technologies to improve services, make government more accessible through use of the internet, and save money for taxpayers.
Candidate for Yorktown councilman: Vishnubhai V. Patel 2289 Willoway Street Yorktown Hts. NY 10598 (914)-962-4563 H B. S. Chemistry and Physics M.S . Material Science 34 Years research scientist at IBM T. J. Watson Research. Yorktown Resident 34 years. Married 26 years toDipika Patel Two Children:Amy and Amit are graduates of Yorktown High School Amy graduated from West Point in 2005 and served in Iraq and next plans to deploy Afghanistan. Amit will be graduating from West Point in 2008.
Vishnu V. Patel
(914)945-2644,
Tie 862-2644
MARK DREXEL:
Thanks for the opportunity to communicate with your readers.
Elect J. Mark Drexel, Councilman - Town of Yorktown
The experience that I have accumulated in my professional, volunteer and personal life, coupled with my formal education affords me the tools and attributes that can assist the board with the challenge to maintain and improve the high level of town services and work to mitigate the challenges to the quality of life we expect in Yorktown. My priorities are to work as a team to address town issues, pursue innovative traffic solutions, encourage re-development & re-vitalization, improve the town’s appearance, and update the town’s emergency plan. Where I stand on the issues:
On Taxes
High taxes are a symptom of over spending. I’m in favor of reducing spending. Much like we all do in our every day lives. We eliminate those expenses that we deem not longer beneficial. Also efforts must be made to expand the tax base by using a thoughtful planning process.
On Traffic
Traffic problems stem from poor planning vision which leads to over development. I will introduce legislation that will clearly define the extent of future development. In the meantime I will utilize my engineering experience to pursue innovative traffic solutions.
On Environment
I will encourage the Town to provide education programs to the residents that encourage non-polluting steps for a healthy lawn and garden - while protecting our water and Introduce legislation to phase-out of pesticides on town property. I will hold protecting the wetlands as a top priority.
On Emergency response
I will lend my extensive experience in emergency management to assist in taking the town’s emergency response plan to the next level to better protect our residents and our children.
On Master plan
My motto is “Infrastructure then development. The master plan must clearly require that the infrastructure necessary to handle any development must be in first. I will support re-development & re-vitalization where the infrastructure already exists. The master plan is a living document with the visions that we must plan today with tomorrow in mind.
On Experience
“The experience that I have accumulated in my professional, volunteer and personal life, coupled with my formal education affords me the tools and attributes that can assist the board with the challenge to maintain and improve the high level of town services and work to mitigate the challenges to the quality of life we expect in Yorktown ”
On Open Space
I will pursue strengthening the local legislation to ensure existing open space is preserved and that the inventory of open space is expanded with in the town and region. Encouraging programs that educate the youth of the town about the need to preserve wildlife habitat will be a priority.
On Teamwork
I believe that leaders of our town must work as a team to address the key issues by pursuing innovative solutions that benefit the community as a whole. Listening… above all, is the first step to a productive Team and I’m committed as a Councilman to listen to the supervisor, my fellow Board members, the other elected officials, the Department Heads, the staff, the residents and business owners.
On Energy conservation
I will continue the town’s emphasis on energy conservation and efficiency programs. I will encourage the Town to educate the homeowner on weatherization, solar energy systems and publicize the financial programs that assist residents with the costs of home energy audits and to help pay for home energy efficiencies.
VOTE for DREXEL - Tuesday, November 6th
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********************THE PEEKSILL RACES******************************************
BILL SCHMIDT:
Dear Andy:
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to address the readers of your blog. I think that forums such as yours represent the best tradition of citizen involvement in government and politics that so many Americans proudly cherish. If I had to sum up why I believe our team is the best slate of candidates to lead Peekskill, I'd use 2 words: diversity and experience. We look like Peekskill and we are Peekskill! Mel Bolden, Milagros Martinez, and Selma Dias Stewart are all long time Peekskill residents who have been involved in the life of this city for a very long time. I also am a Peekskill native with 30 years of service and involvement in the community. We know the issues and we know the people of this great city. We also didn't make running for office our first civic deed but instead, we became active many years before we ever considered being in politics.
Because we know this city so well, we have taken clear and unambiguous positions on the major issues that face Peekskill, even the controversial ones. We think the voters are entitled to know where every candidate stands so they can make an informed choice on election day.
Here is our platform for moving Peekskill Forward.
On economic development, we want to complete the plans created for downtown and waterfront revitalization. That means working with Target to locate at, and clean up, the old industrial sites off Louisa St and not waste time forcing them to go to another location they don't want.
It also means bringing market rate housing to our downtown and waterfront areas that will also bring the type of residents who have the disposable income to support more retail stores and increase employment. These plans represent smart growth models used successfully in urban areas throughout the country by bringing in people who will live work and shop in the same location.
Helping those less fortunate has always been Peekskill's legacy. Its past time for other more wealthy communities in Westchester to be a part of that legacy as well, and start to do their fair share. We insist that the burden of social services and low income housing be accepted by all communities, wealthy and poor. That's why we also do not favor any more subsidized housing in the City of Peekskill and we believe that the homeless shelter can and should look throughout the entire county to find a new home. It does after all, serve homeless people throughout all of Westchester.
We also believe the rule of law applies to all. We do not favor a "sanctuary city" policy for Peekskill, which means that if our police arrest someone who is here illegally we will co-operate with all federal agencies in their apprehension and removal from our streets and our borders.
Regarding Eminent Domain, we don't make an artificial distinction between a government project and a private one. Government can also promote undesirable projects and shouldn't have any special powers to use eminent domain and force them on the public. We don't favor eminent domain unless it is being used to address serious problems of health and safety.
We can and should rebuild our city without using eminent domain wherever possible.
Our programs for redevelopment are also important because they guarantee the financial health of the city. Market rate developments pay full taxes and use less city services. That helps us keep our tax rates low and avoid more debt. Peekskill has worked hard to build up its financial reserves and hold taxe rates steady. It would be a big mistake to change those policies, (as our opponents want to do) and spend away our reserves on pet projects.
Our commitment to sound environmental policies like smart growth and cleanup of old industrial sites has earned me the endorsement of the League of Conservation Voters. The Westchester Hispanic Law Enforcement Association and the Teamsters International Local 456 have also endorsed me because sound fiscal policies protect city employee's health and pension benefits, as well as taxpayers and homeowners who are on fixed incomes.
Our complete platform is posted on GOPeekskill.com and peekskillfirst.net. I hope everyone will take the time to study our proposals because we think we strike the right balance for making Peekskill the best place to live that it possibly can be. If you share our vision we will be very grateful for your support on election day, Tuesday November 6th.
Sincerely
Bill Schmidt
Candidate for Peekskill Mayor
Republican, Independence, Conservative and Libertarian Parties
MEL BOLDEN:
My name is Mel Bolden and would like to continue to represent you… the citizens of Peekskill… on the Common Council. I have been on the council for 8 years (2 terms) and I find it on Honor to contribute… give back… to my community.
And this is MY community… born and raised and respected. My children are the 6th generation of Bolden’s in Peekskill. My family history runs deep… My grandfather was Peekskill’s first black police officer. My grandmother sat on boards from the Peekskill Area Health Center to the Field Library Board. My family members were founders of both Mount Olivet and Mt. Lebanon Baptists churches. The Walter Corney Gym is named after my uncle. My cousin is a former deputy Mayor of Peekskill. My father was one of the founders of Peekskill Flag Football league… I can go on and on and on… This is my family… this is my community.
As for my contributions…
I am a teacher of music for the Peekskill School District. My specialty is music technology and I am looking forward to getting into the new middle school building complete with my new music lab… but that’s another story.
I’m an active member and ex-captain of the Peekskill Fire Dept., a former EMT with the Peekskill Volunteer Ambulance Corps., a member and senior sound technician of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church. I am a board member of the Peekskill Education Foundation and Westchester Community Opportunity Program, Inc, (WestCOP).
I’m the former co-chairman of the Westchester County Youth Board, and currently serving on the West. Co. Reducing Youth Violence Committee.
This list goes on forever… my full resume is available online at http://www.peekskillgop.com/ or in the literature that floods your mailboxes during election time as always…
But in short, this is why I need your vote…
Investing in the downtown redevelopment:
This investment serves to attract and keep people in their communities/municipalities by making downtowns, shopping areas and business districts more inviting and accessible. I need your vote to continue this progress…
Keeping Taxes Low:
Peekskill is currently in the best financial shape ever. Two (2) years of back-to-back 0% tax increases and an A1 credit rating from Moody’s. Why? Because of the great revitalization plans Peekskill has had. I voted for Riverbend, Chapel Hill, Stop-N-Shop, the list goes on… And with a future of Target, Downtown and Waterfront Redevelopment in the works… the services will continue to increase while keeping the taxes low. I need your vote to continue this progress…
Recreation Services:
Most have been upgraded and improved… Lepore Park (with spray grounds), Franklin Park, Depew Park, Tompkins Park, Peekskill Stadium…
Youth Bureau:
It took some time, but we finally have a City Owned facility that we will be moving into soon.
The Artists District: One of the most successful plans that helped put Peekskill on the map… internationally. And it’s still growing… I need your vote to continue this progress…
To sum things up…
Peekskill needs Progress not Regress…
Many of you who are new to Peekskill are here by your choice… you probably could have moved anywhere… but due to the work I have contributed, you have chosen to live here.
For those of you who have lived in Peekskill for years… I have been honored and privileged to have your overwhelming continued support… And with that, I thank you… You know I’ve always put Peekskill (First) before politics…
JOE SCHUDER:
Andy,
I thought the best way for voters to decide on pulling the lever for me is to have them make a judgement on the answers to questions asked by voters in my door by door travels and by various journalists. It will give them an opportunity to know me better and my plans and hopes for Peekskill. Thanks for the opportunity to submit this to you and my Peekskill neighbors.
Joe Schuder
Candidate for Common Council
1. Why Run?
I am a recently retired business development executive who has worked for Fortune 500 companies, a high tech Silicon Valley company and beginning stage startup companies. As such, I did my research into various statistics about Peekskill. What I discovered both concerned me and at the same time motivated me. The fact is that for many years Peekskill has had no real job growth and remains far below the cities around us in family income. This did not fit with the City’s glowing reports of success. These chronic conditions coupled with our stalled and failed residential development projects convinced me that I wanted to run for City Council.
My motivation for running is to use my management and development business experience to help Peekskill achieve our long awaited success.
To this end, my plan will bring good paying jobs to Peekskill by focusing on business development in the downtown, riverfront and other sections of the city. I will include our artist and existing business communities in this new focus.
Create a reasonable residential growth plan that fits the culture and realities of Peekskill while encouraging middle income and new family units.
Will give immediate attention to resolving any issues with our current residential development partners to put us back on track or move forward with other alternatives.
Will expand our base of residential development partners and be sure they have the financial resources and management skills to deliver projects on time and successfully.
Will pursue river projects with business potential that will serve our own enjoyment and draw tourists to Peekskill.
Will institute a city/senior citizen panel to recommend the necessary steps to meet the facility and program needs of a quickly growing senior community.
I believe that the actions and plans I have outlined will result in a city where are citizens can live and work and create the only real foundation for stable city taxes. Being recently retired allows me the time to achieve my goals for Peekskill.
2. What is your personal experience?
I have spent my entire career as a successful business development executive managing the groups that sell, engineer, implement and service major technology installations for government and Fortune 500 companies. I have managed large groups of people with different skill sets and tasks as well as relationships with the top management of prospective and established clients. Having negotiated many contracts, I bring the necessary experience to insure good deals are made and problems are solved for the city.
I have the experience and discipline to help build a budget that stays within our revenue projections but provides for the salaries, services and maintenance needed to run a successful city. Adding additional revenues from a new and expanding business base are critical to financial success.
3. Other activities?
Currently I am working as a pro bono consultant. The project is a national call
center network coupling the center locations with adjoining living quarters for
Disabled Veterans. There are over 200,000 veterans deemed unemployable.
I am also serving as a second term board member for a family counseling center dedicated to serving those who cannot pay. I served on my condo board at Chapel Hill and I work as an outreach volunteer at my church. The program supplies and delivers food/ clothing to our sister parish in the South Bronx.
4. Quality of Life concerns?
My focus on business development coupled with a balanced residential plan will contribute to a better quality of life in Peekskill. I would also mount a volunteer initiative to secure corporate donations and various grant funds to build a computer center for our youth. The goals are to contribute to their overall knowledge of technology as part of their total education; to give our youth a place to constructively spend their time; and focus the community on participation in youth programs e.g. Artists could instruct in the use of computer graphics.
4. What about Taxes?
My plan to generate tax revenues via business development with balanced residential growth will create stable taxes on a long term basis. The plan works for the city and the schools by controlling service and infrastructure costs.
Joseph Schuder
Candidate for Peekskill
Common Council
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********************THE TOWN OF CORTLANT RACES*******************************
DR. RICHARD BECKER:
Andy,
Thank you for the opportunity to speak directly to your readers. As I've walked all over Cortlandt this past summer and autumn this is the same type of message that I keep hearing from people: They want to be able to speak to and hear from their Councilman. Unfortunately, there's no Councilman's phone numbers or office currently for the town residents to do that. It is a situation, I assure you, that I want to see changed.
People are also concerned about traffic, overdevelopment, and, of course, taxes. Town taxes in Cortlandt have been steady. But, as everyone knows, the school tax portions are out-of-control. It is easy for town officials to say that they don't have any control over school taxes. But I believe that moving towards a broader approach to shared services between the town and the school districts will bring all of our town's residents some relief. Pressure has to put on Albany as well, this fight must be fought on all fronts.
Overdevelopment only adds to our tax burden. The taxes levied from new homes simply do not equal the municipal and school expenditures to support them. Cortlandt is one of the last frontiers in Westchester's semi-rural way of life. I do not want to see Cortlandt or any other part of Northern Westchester go the way of the southern part of the county because of overdevelopment. The current approach in Cortlandt to development and green space is to celebrate victories of opportunity that come about in a piecemeal fashion. I want to fundamentally change the way we look at development in Cortlandt. By capping the number of building permits issued annually at 60% of the current amount and requiring that all parcels over 5 acres donate half of the acreage to green space when developed, we can make proactive strides to protecting out town and quality of life. We need to act, not react.
So I encourage all of your readers: Act! On Tuesday, go vote.
Rich Becker
Candidate for Councilman, Town of Cortlandt
JOSEPH C. CERRETO:
I am running for reelection to the Cortlandt Town Board and heard aboutyour bi-partisan posting.I have attached a brief statement for posting, and would appreciate it ifyou would be so kind as to put it on your blog. If you have troubleopening it, please let me know and I'll try to resend in a different format
Thanks!
Joe Cerreto
1. Why I am seeking re-election
I am seeking my third full term as Cortlandt Councilman. During my entire time on this board, my colleagues and I have acted in a bi-partisan effort to improve the town. We have been tremendously innovative in every aspect of town government. We have engaged in regional/intergovernmental projects which avoided duplication of services and saved millions of dollars of taxpayer money (The Northern Westchester Joint Waterworks is but one example, involving Cortlandt, Yorktown and Somers). We have purchased over 3,000 acres of open space and are about to close on a deal for the purchase of another 100+ acres. We have advocated for our Veterans in lobbying to keep the Montrose VA hospital open. We have enacted a series of building moratoria while we revised the Town’s Master plan and are now implementing those policies. We just received an award from Westchester County for leading the county in our recycling efforts. We are probably the only town to meet the County’s affordable housing goals. We have begun looking into enacting a traffic overlay district (which looks at a regional traffic impact of a particular development) was well as a waterfront revitalization district. Cortlandt is unique in that it is one of the few places where one can access the Hudson River without crossing railroad tracks. We have dramatically improved the entire waterfront in Verplanck and obtained literally millions of dollars in grants to improve sidewalks, pedestrian trails, etc. We led the way in developing public/private partnerships to purchase open space (Hillpoint) while at the same time not hesitating to defend our planning board in court when developers sued over denials of projects. We adopted a FAR (Floor Area Ratio) to prevent the building of “McMansions” on undersized lots. We began replacing our gasoline powered auto fleet with hybrids. We received a grant of $75,000 from NYPA to install solar panels on the roof of town hall and had an energy audit of all town buildings done by NYPA to make all our building energy efficient. We instituted the paramedic program which has been hugely successful at a minimal cost to the town by being innovative - we sent the EMT to school to become a paramedic in exchange for 18 moths of service to the program. And all this was done with a 0% town tax increase on average.
I could go on and on about what we have accomplished. However, suffice it to say that I want to continue to work with this board to develop new and exciting ways to keep Cortlandt an affordable place to live and work.
2. My government experience is extensive and not just on this board. I have been the Town Attorney for several municipalities in Putnam and Westchester Counties. I am currently the principal law secretary for a Justice of the Supreme Court, Appellate Division, located in Manhattan. In addition, I am a Colonel in the US Army Reserve and command a unit located in the Bronx, consisting of 104 JAGs and paralegals. I served a tour in Iraq where I was the Senior Legal Advisor to the US War Crimes Investigation Team. During that tour, I was award the Bronze Star medal, Global War on Terrorism medal in addition to other awards.
3. Quality of life
This is the key to everything we do on this town board. If you look at everything listed in item one, which is just a representative sample of what we’ve done during my time on the board, you can see that everything is geared toward quality of life. We have a recreation program that is second to none. We recently added additional recreation fields to the town inventory of sports property. We want to continue to work of traffic flow issues (traffic is going to be there no matter what we do; the question is how to make it flow efficiently with minimal impact on residential neighborhoods). We recently installed a traffic roundabout at the intersection of Westbrook Drive and Oregon Road. This was an intersection that had 5 roads haphazardly coming to a marginally functional intersection. By installing this roundabout, we created a smooth flow of traffic that eliminated the back-ups and dangerous situation this created. I want to continue to lobby the state for a new intersection between Rte 9 and 9A to take some of the traffic from Route 9A. We successfully got DOT approval and funding to improve the intersection of Lafayette Ave and Route 202 and build traffic turn lanes for the Hudson Valley Hospital Center. At Route 6 near Jacobs Hill, we made traffic improvements for the safety of the senior complex recently build in that area. In terms of public safety, we are the only town out of the 900 towns in New York State to have its own emergency coordinator. Jeff Tacks works closing with state and county officials in planning for everything from hurricanes to other emergencies. We have our own emergency center and have used it when necessary, most recently during the hot spell this past summer to distribute dry ice to those who lost power and as a shelter for those who needed to cool down while the electricity was out. So quality of life is foremost on the list of priorities for the town.
4. Taxes
As I noted above, during my tenure on the board, we have, on average, not raised the town portion of the tax bill. Unfortunately, we have no control over the village, county and school tax components. My opponent doesn’t seem to understand that, while we all want lower school taxes, the town board has absolutely no control, by state law, over school budgets and taxes. We have offered to the school districts the use of our comptroller and offered to work with both villages to share services to eliminate duplicitous services. We have just recently come to an agreement with the Village of Buchanan to use our planner to assist them in their projects so they don’t have to hire their own planner. We have in the past, “lent” our building inspector to the Village of Buchanan while they were without the services of their own. In this way and many other ways, we have controlled taxes. We have been tremendously successful in obtaining grants for projects and generally purchase vehicles from our budget surplus, thus not bonding for those types of purchases. Our bond rating is the highest for a town so on those occasions when we do have to bond (for example, to purchase our town garage) we do so at favorable rates, thus keeping costs down.
I have been endorsed by the Sierra Club, The Journal News and the North County News. My experience on the board speaks for itself. I urge you to visit my website http://www.votecerreto.com/ to learn more.
DANIEL F. McCARTHY:
Please accept the following for inclusion in your Election Blog. I have also attached the same statement as a separate Word document in the event this in necessary.
Thank you.
Daniel F. McCarthyThe McCarthy
Law Firm, P.C.1Croton Point AvenueCroton on Hudson, NY 10520
(914) 271-2828
(914) 271-2880-fax
Dear Town of Cortlandt Voter:
I am running for the position of Town Justice in Cortlandt, and respectfully ask for your vote on Tuesday, November 6, 2007.
I have been practicing law for 22 years, and have had the privilege of serving as a judge in the Village of Buchanan, where I served as the Acting Village Justice for four (4) years. Serving as a judge has given me invaluable experience and insight into dealing with the criminal and civil justice issues that confront our community.
As the Acting Village Justice, I presided over all aspects of the Village Court, including conducting criminal jury trials, civil and small claim trials and traffic trials. Unlike my opponent who has no judicial experience, I have had to make decisions as a Judge concerning bail applications, sentences and pleas, all of which impact multiple phases of the criminal justice system. I am keenly aware of the impact a fair, impartial and firm jurist can have on a community, and the need to run an orderly and firm court, with the goal of engendering respect for the law and the institution of the Court. These experiences have made me uniquely qualified to serve the residents of the Town of Cortlandt as Town Justice.
I am a lifelong resident of the Town of Cortlandt, and have been married to Mitra for 19 years. We have four wonderful children, Jackie (15), Megan (13), Molly (13) and Jimmy (8).
I have for the past eight (8) years served as a Sponsor and Assistant Coach to numerous Town of Cortlandt Youth Soccer and Basketball teams, as well as the Hudson Valley Lacrosse Association for the Cortlandt Team, 3rd – 4th Grade Boys/Girls Team, and 5th-6th Grade Girls Team. I am involved in charity fundraising, serving as a Board Member of the Masquerade Ball Committee for The Children’s Village, Dobbs Ferry, New York, and am a former member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 67. I am also a graduate of Hendrick Hudson High School,
I have had the benefit and privilege of practicing law with my father, Daniel A. McCarthy for the past 17 years. As many may know, my father Daniel A. McCarthy has served with honor and distinction as the Town Justice in Cortlandt for the past 30 years. He has imparted a great deal of his experience and wisdom to me during the time that we have worked together. My father is extremely proud of his public service as Town Justice and is grateful to the residents of the Town of Cortlandt who placed their trust in him, and allowed him the opportunity to serve our community.
My background and judicial experience make me the most qualified candidate for the position of Cortlandt Town Justice, and if elected I will dedicate myself to administering justice in a fair, firm and impartial manner.
Thank you for your consideration.
Respectfully,
Daniel F. McCarthy
Cortlandt Town Justice Candidate
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********************PUTNAM VALLEY TOWN RACES*******************************
ROBERT TENDY:
Candidate for Putnam Valley Town Supervisor:
Our town government is in an unprecedented municipal crisis. Over the past two years, this is what has occurred:
1. Democratic Supervisor and party co-chair suing the town;
2. Outrageous salary increases for Democratic committee co-chairwoman masquerading as a "confidential aide to the Supervisor";
3. Condemnation by the ethics board of both for their actions;
4. Thousands of dollars in unpaid legal fees as a result of the Democratic Supervisor and his "confidential aide/girlfriend" suing the town;
5. Two years of talk regarding issues that went nowhere, but cost the town hundreds of thousands in fees: moratorium (shelved); health coverage for domestic partners (curious that two new Democratic Board members had a personal interest in this--but it was shelved as a result of public outcry); two nuclear power resolutions that our town attorney had to draft at our expense; studies involving outdated solar panels which would have cost the town over $50,000 thousand dollars and would have resulted in no increased revenue;
6. The highest budget increases in the past fifteen years-at least.
The list goes on.
Our town needs to get back on track and really tackle the quality of life issues that concern our residents and work to get real property tax reform from Albany. I will hold fellow board members accountable for work they are assigned to do--they will have to earn their money, and I don't care what party they are from. Town hall will become and open and accessible place to our residents, and their will be swift follow through on issues.
Recently the Journal News and the North County News gave me their endorsement. Here are quotes from the articles:
From the Journal News endorsement, Sunday, October 28:
New leadership is desperately needed in the Putnam Valley supervisor's seat, and Robert Tendy, a Republican, is our choice for the job.
He advocates a pragmatic, Putnam Valley-style approach to development: a small business district in the Oregon Corners area. We endorsed Tendy, an attorney, for his leadership potential and experience when he ran against Democrat Sam Davis two years ago. As far as we can tell, neither Tendy nor Putnam Valley's most pressing issues have changed much since then.
From the North County News endorsement, Thursday, November 1:
Putnam Valley needs people in charge who will put zoning and regulations in place that will maintain the town’s rural character but also increase commerce… Bob Tendy is a no-nonsense leader who promises to get things done. He wants to give each board member assignments and projects and hold them accountable for their work on projects at board meetings. We like the sound of that. His opponent, Wendy Whetsel, is not as experienced with municipal law.
I'm thankful for the endorsements, but mindful of an obligation: town government exists to help the people in the town. That's the first obligation. I'm committed to this task of bringing responsive and professional management to our town.
Don't forget to vote! Bob Tendy
ERIC HARRIS:
ERIC LAMAR HARRIS, ESQ.
Office/Cell: (914) 720-3996
P.O. BOX 454
Fax (845) 528-1191
LAKE PEEKSKILL
Perdiemattorneypage.com
NEW YORK 10537
Elharrisesq@verizon.net
To: Andy Bazzo
Re: Eric Lamar Harris, Esq. –Corrections/Comments to North County News Election Section 2007.
Date: November 2, 2007
Andy,
I thank you for providing a forum through which candidates may correct or add to their profiles presented within the North County News Election Section 2007, while making any final comments before Election Day 2007.
Correction/Comment 1. The “performing pro bono small claims work in the Bronx” comment within my profile is a bit misstated. My full comment to Mr. Boisi was that I have been a pro bono Arbitrator for the City of New York in the Small Claims Court, Bronx County.
Correction/Comment 2. Mr. Boisi asked me “why do you think you are the best man for the job”. In reply I noted my 20 plus years of court experience as a litigation attorney, experience as an Arbitrator for the City of New York, almost daily appearances in the various courts within the New York State Court System (not as the profile stated that I had been going to court every day for 20 years), my service upon two separate attorney grievance committees (9th Judicial District and Westchester County Bar Association), a former President of the Association of Black Lawyers of Westchester County, Inc., desire to perform public service and my goal to run an efficient court where all sides are listened to, treated with respect and their cases decided fairly.
I mentioned that I would like to modify the court calendar by having more than one appearance time for all of the cases on the court’s calendar. This I believe would create less of a time burden upon the people appearing before the court that day.
Correction/Comment 3. I did not state “I’m the best man for the job”. I did state that I would do the job well. I have enough humility and common sense not to make such a comment and will let the voters decide that issue.
Correction/Comment 4. The comment ”this is not a knock on how the court is run now, but I would like to make a few modifications to get the job done” is attributed to me. This was not my statement but rather an amalgamation of about 3-4 separate comments. I have been in too many courtrooms where working people and those with children have had to sit around all morning waiting for their cases to be called. I think that modifying the calendar would help prevent this problem, which I believe is system wide.
I must stress at this point that I made no comment upon Judge Di Carlo or the operation of his court.
Correction/Comment 5. For the record, I do not have two teenage daughters as stated within the NCN profile. I have one daughter and a young man in college, who has not expressed any desire to modify his gender and become my second teenage daughter.
Comment/Advice. The reporter Mr. Boisi and I had a great deal of difficulty contacting each other. Our discussion finally took place via cellular telephone while I was parked along a bad reception/send area of Route 6 in Rockland or Orange County. This probably accounts for any reporting problems that I have with the content of my profile. Advice: never conduct an interview in such a setting.
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MESSAGE FROM PUTNAM VALLEY SUPERVISOR SAM DAVIS:
Dear Andy,
I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to respond to Mr. Tendy.
Bob you once said "I could be wrong." You were so right. Sadly you have been a Councilman for five years. Your latest post illustrates why you are completely unsuited for that office, no less Town Supervisor. (Unfortunately, your opponent has also shown herself to be equally unsuited for the position).
There is no municipal crisis in Putnam Valley, but for the last two years you have been trying to convince our residents that there is.
1. You blatantly used ethics and politics to pursue an issue that as an attorney you should have known was not genuine. There was no ethics crisis. There was no illegality, impropriety or unethical behavior. Supreme Court Justice Lippman so ordered. This has been your biggest issue for the last two years and it is your deceitful invention.
2. Another oft told lie. You are well aware that there was no outrageous salary increase because you set the salary along with the rest of the board before I took office. Likewise, the current board will set the salary for the next Supervisor's aide. Last year, this board, in my absence, cut the salary by $10,000. Obviously, I didn't set the original salary. If I could have done that, the salary would not have been cut.
3. The Ethics Board upheld the salary level and did not recommend an action.
4. Yet another lie. There are no unpaid legal fees, even for the conference that your so called "ethics attorney" had with John Zarcone. And by the way, it was your decision to hire an attorney at more than twice what it would have cost for our Town Attorney to litigate the case-$175/hr. instead of $75/hr. And you have the nerve to say that you are safeguarding the taxpayers dollars?
5. I hardly know where to begin with this one. First, none of the things you mentioned, even in total, cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees. That is an utter lie. Second, as you well know, I had nothing to do with the domestic partner health coverage issue. I had no stake in it. It was introduced by Councilwoman Keresey. However, you did vote to give health coverage to part time elected officials so that you could get coverage - only elected officials, not other employees of the Town. Apparently you believe that elected officials (at least some of them) are more important than "regular" people. Third, our Town attorney did not draft nuclear power resolutions. They were provided to us. Moreover, had he done so, it would have cost the Town nothing as he is not paid per resolution drafted. Four, the solar panels would have been the most current technology and would have cost the Town $23,800, not $50,000.
And then they would have saved money by reducing our future electric bills. Your lack of information and understanding, and your facility at deception are frightening. You still have time to reverse your ill thought out decision on the solar panels.
6. You are also well aware that the high budget increases were largly a function of poor planning and budgeting during the years you served before I was elected. Why don't you admit it and tell the truth for a change? You might find it cathartic. You voted for the budget last year, in my absence. You could have changed it as much as you wanted. You did make some poorly thought out changes that will cost our residents down the line. But you're only interested in what you can say now. The harm you do to the future..., well you'll find some way to explain it away then. You have been irresponsible for five budgets. What is it you want to cut? Maybe you should start with the outrageous videographer salary.
And by the way, after making a big fuss about my teaching nine days in January of '06, you've promised to cut your law practice to 15%.
Bob, you have not been accountable or accessible for five years. Why would we believe that that will change?
Sam Davis
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FYI: EVENT MONDAY 11/05/07 AT SUSAN'S RESTURANT ON N. DIVISION ST.
The Big Bang Jazz Gang Big Band will perform at Susans Restaurant &Club starting at 8:00 & going to 10:30.The band plays the music of Mingus, Monk, Coltrane, Parker & otherModern Jazz Giants.The band is:Ben Newsome, Dale DiMarco, David Savitzky, David CasT, Jim Perry,reeds; Howard Levy, Joe Bacci and John Hahn, trombones; Fred Jacobs,John Leonard trumpets; Mike Cull, keyboards; Rob Kopec, bass;Bob Meyer, drums & cymbals.
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Admission is FREE! COME ON OUT! BRING THE KIDS; THERE'S NO SCHOOLTues. & VOTE!!!!
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Please come in a help support live creative music in Peekskill,Westchester, Rockland & Orange Counties & environs where so many greatmusicians now live.++Thanks.*******************************************
Please check out Susans website below to see all the other music thathappens each week at the club.
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Susans is located at12 North Division StreetPeekskill, NY 10566914-737-6624http://www.susansinpeekskill.com/Thanks, Bobhttp://www.bobmeyermusic.com/
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FYI: FREE CONCERT COMMING UP IN PEEKSILL:
Hey Folks,
I thought I would pass this on. If you can make it, I guarantee you will be impressed. These are world class players playing in our backyard. Hope to see you there.
Andy
Hi Andy,
Don't miss out on this Free Jazz Concert at
Ford Piano
in Downtown Peekskill
Friday, November 9 at 6:00-9:00PM
Featuring
Mike Longo & Andy Laverne
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THIS WEEKS "IN MY OPINION COLUMN" IN THE NCN:
Dear Readers:
This week I discuss the continuing sage of the Old Stone Church. You can read my column on this topic exclusively in this weeks NORTH COUNTY NEWS on sale now. I am worth the seventy-five cents. Look for my column IN MY OPINION(page 26) in the editorial section. Better yet as this column is exclusive to the North County News on a regular basis and will be covering the local political scene, take out a subscription. Click on the North County News link below and go to Subscribe. Between this blog and The North County News you will have all the information to make a vote based on substance.
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FYI: ATOM TAXI INC. AIRPORT SERVICE:
Dear Readers:
This gives me a chance to plug my business ATOM TAXI INC. Instead of the headache of trying to find Airport parking, we do Airport Service to The Westchester County Airport(and ALL other airports) 24/7. Just call 1(914)879-6121 and my partner Tommy, will be glad to take you in our Airport Taxi. You will also be provided with a free copy of your local paper of record The North County News. If this is a business trip we also provide a professional receipt, just tell Tommy at the time of booking. The cost of a one-way trip to the Westchester County Airport is seventy dollars. To LaGuardia Airport the cost is Ninety-four dollars which includes all tolls. The cost to JFK and Newark Airports is one hundred-twenty-five dollars which also includes all tolls. We do not take credit cards, sorry.
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E-MAIL ME WITH YOUR COMMENTS:
Dear Readers:
It has come to my attention the difficulty in posting a comment on this blog. If you wish to comment, e-mail me at the link posted below, putting "Manifesto Reader" in the subject matter, and I will "cut and Paste" your comments myself. If you DO NOT wish your comments posted, but just wish to communicate with me, please make your wishes known in the e-mail.
LINKS: atom_taxi@yahoo.com(as this a yahoo address make sure you put an underscore (-) between atom and taxi)
For immediate reply: atomtaxi@aol.com
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SITES TO LINK TO:
ON THE OTHER HAND W/ FORMER PEEKSKILL COUNCILMAN SCHMIDT: http://peekskillperspectives.blogspot.com/
YORKTOWN COUNCILMAN NICK BIANCO: http://www.electbianco.com/
PLAN PUTNAM: planputnam@googlegroups.com/
PEEKSKILL GUARDIAN: http://peekskillguardian.blogspot.com/
NORTH COUNTY NEWS: http://northcountynews.com/
THE JOURNAL NEWS: http://thejournalnews.com/
PEEKSKILL DEMOCRATS: http://www.peekskilldems.com/
PEEKSKILLREPUBLICANS:http://peekskillgop.com/
YORKTOWN CANDIDATE FOR SUPERVISOR DON PETERS: http://www.donpetersforyorktown.com/
YORTOWN CANDIDATE FOR SUPERVISOR ROSE MARIE PANIO: http://www.rosemariepanio.com/
PUTNAM VALLEY CANDIDATE FOR SUPERVISOR BOB TENDY:http://www.bobtendyforsupervisor.com/
PEEKSKILL FIRST: http://www.peekskillfirst.net/
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CABLE SHOWS TO WATCH
ON POINT ON PEEKSKILL: Every Tuesday at 8PM channel 15 (Peekskill only)
Hosted by:DARREN RIGGER
DON PETERS AND YORKTOWN: Every Tuesday at 10PM channel 74
Hosted by: DON PETERS
YORKTOWN WATCHDOG: Every Friday at 9:30 PM on channel 74
Hosted By: ED CHIFFON
LEGISLATORS REPORT: Saturday and Sunday at various times on chanel 20
Hosted By: COUNCILMEN NICK BIANCO AND LOU CAMPISI
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EDITOR'S NOTE:All articles re-printed in this blog from the North County News are with the permission of Bruce Apar Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
BAZZO 11/03/07
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