BROKEN PROMISIES

FYI: THIS WAS IN THE JOURNAL NEWS:

Delays coming soon to Bear Mountain, Cross County parkways
By CAREN HALBFINGERTHE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: June 2, 2007)

Motorists can expect daytime delays next week on the Bear Mountain Parkway in Cortlandt and Peekskill, with similar slowdowns to come later this month on a 1 1/2 -mile stretch of the Cross County Parkway in Mount Vernon.
Both delays will be caused by occasional single-lane closures in each direction from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. while contractors make drainage improvements that will precede repaving. On Monday in Cortlandt and Peekskill, the work will begin on Bear Mountain Parkway and extend from Route 202 to Highland Avenue.
There also may be occasional nighttime closures on ramps that connect the parkway to Route 6, said Josh Ribakove, a spokesman for the state Department of Transportation.
Once the drainage work is finished, the road will be milled and then repaved between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Milling chews up the top layer of the road, making the pavement rough and noisy to drive on, but it must be done to prepare the road for a layer of asphalt.
Motorists should expect delays and lane closures through the summer during this nighttime work on the two-mile stretch.
Peckham Road Corp. of White Plains will be paid $3 million to do this road along with similar work on Route 9W in Rockland and on the Cross County Parkway later this month.
On the Cross County, a section from the Bronx River Parkway to the Hutchinson River Parkway will be torn up sometime before July 1 so that it can be improved. The contractor hasn't determined the start date and other details, Ribakove said. All lanes and all ramps to the Bronx River Parkway and to Columbus Avenue in Mount Vernon will be affected.
This project also will start with daytime drainage work, which could require closing a lane in each direction from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. That alone should cause backups on the Hutchinson River and Cross County parkways.
Once the drainage improvements are made, milling and paving will be done from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday with at least one lane open in each direction at all times. Even so, backups are likely, so motorists might want to try the Cross-Westchester Expressway.

Reach Caren Halbfinger at chalbfin
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THIS WAS IN THE JOURNAL NEWS:

Brown is now acting chairwoman for Peekskill housing board
By ROBERT MARCHANTTHE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: May 30, 2007)

PEEKSKILL - A public housing official who has drawn criticism from community residents over her relations with staff and tenants is the new acting chairwoman of the Peekskill Housing Authority Board.
Leesther Brown took over as acting chairwoman following the resignation of Mel Bolden late last week. The six members of the board will take a vote next month to determine who will be named to the post permanently.
Bolden, a member of the City Council, said he was stepping down to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest while he ran for a third council term. Bolden said he was pleased that the housing authority's executive director, who recently was suspended under circumstances that were never fully announced, had returned to work.
Bolden said he supported Executive Director Gheevarghese "Thomas" Thankachan and was glad that he was still working for the authority.
"I fought my battles," Bolden said, noting he was opposed to Thankachan's suspension earlier this year.
"I feel comfortable with the timing," Bolden said. "They're in good hands."
Thankachan returned after a two-month suspension. He said yesterday that there were no formal charges filed against him. He has also retained a lawyer.
"I've always done a good job for the authority," he said. "I'm back to work, and I'm going to continue. They couldn't find any charges. I can't make any more comments."
Brown, a retired nursing assistant and state employee, has come under scrutiny for a verbal tirade at City Hall in the fall and heated encounters with residents and staff. Because of her seniority among members on the board, she took over as acting chairwoman.
She said her goal was to make public housing in Peekskill a model, and that criticism directed at her was politically motivated during an election year.
Brown said she was interested in pursuing more scholarships, education, job training and other initiatives in Peekskill's public housing.
"With change comes controversy," she said, calling a petition against her holding a seat on the housing board the work of a small group of activists.
"It's a handful of residents who keep this going," she said.
She said there were still personnel issues involved with Thankachan but declined to go into specifics.
A local activist who helped organize a petition calling for Brown to be removed from the board criticized her taking over as the acting chairwoman. Sandra Dolman said Brown was a divisive figure who was quick to start fights.
"It's unfortunate to the tenants and the community. She has her own agenda," Dolman said.
Brown is a Republican allied with Common Council members in that party. The party is expected to name its slate for the fall election tomorrow.
Members of the housing board serve without pay.

Reach Robert Marchant at rmarchan@lohud

MY COMMENTS ON THIS:

Dear Readers:

Now we will see if all the critics are right. As of this point they are invested in her failure. It is because of this investment in failure that they will do what they can to make it appear they were right. They pointed out that Lee Brown would scold people. They would not tell you though what the scolding was for. All for appearance with no substance to back it up. Now you will find that though she may be rough around the edges(after all she is no professional politician), the message she was trying to make was a needed one. I for one hope she succeeds.
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THIS WAS IN THE JOURNAL NEWS:

Bill Schmidt gains GOP nomination for Peekskill mayor

By ROBERT MARCHANTTHE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: June 1, 2007)

PEEKSKILL - City Republicans nominated Bill Schmidt, a former member of the Common Council who lost his seat in 2005, to run for the mayor's office.
Schmidt, one of the few openly gay politicians in New York, was picked to lead the GOP ticket with two council incumbents seeking re-election, Milagros Martinez and Mel Bolden, and a political newcomer running for the other seat, Selma Dias-Stewart.
Schmidt, 52, a claims director with the New York state Insurance Department who served on the council from 1997 to 2005, said his campaign would focus on growth, taxes, safety and quality of life. He said Democrats on the Common Council were obstructing the progress and new development that the Republican administration has been nurturing through the years.
Speaking amid an enthusiastic crowd at Taomina's restaurant, Schmidt said he would do away with downtown parking meters to encourage shoppers, crack down on residential overcrowding, fight to make other parts of Westchester do their share on affordable housing and expand television coverage of city meetings. Schmidt said being gay was "old news" in Peekskill. He said the campaign would focus on "local stuff," not his identity.
Schmidt was endorsed by the outgoing Republican mayor, John Testa, who declined to run for re-election this year.
"Without this team getting in, get ready to pay higher taxes and get ready to see a lot of 'For Sale' signs in the city," Testa said. "A lot is at stake."
"We've made a lot of progress. We need to keep it going," Bolden said. "We have a plan. We have a vision."
Dias-Stewart, 52, the first-time candidate, is a guidance counselor in the Peekskill school district and a member of the city's Human Relations Commission, which investigates complaints about bias. She said her goal was to make Peekskill "a vibrant, viable city" and had a special interest in youth affairs.
On the Democratic side, Mary Foster, a councilwoman, is running for mayor, and Councilman Don Bennett is seeking re-election. First-time candidates Patricia Salvate-Riley and Joseph Schuder are running for council.
Foster called the Republicans "the same old faces beating the same old drum."
She said her slate had "more skills, creative ideas and business experience." As for Democratic goals, she said, "We need to grow in a reasonable way and use reasonable planning. We need to focus on business development and bringing growth to our downtown, building on the arts community."
Republicans hold a 4-3 majority on the council. The mayor serves a two-year term and is paid $13,015 annually; council members are paid $8,686 and serve four years.

Reach Robert Marchant at rmarchan@lohud.com or 914-666-6578.

MY COMMENTS ON THIS:

We are looking forward to a vibrant campaign on the issues and a clear and open dialogue about the future of our great city. Thank you all for being active in your community and for participating in these elections.

Sincerely, Darren Rigger, Chairman City of Peekskill Democratic Committee

Dear Readers:

That was the final quote from the Democratic press release announcing their slate for this years election. I have in my possession the press release regarding the Republican slate from the Democratic Committee Chairman Darren Rigger(same one who made the above statement), and I see NOTHING about issues, hence the title of this weeks post.

He mentions that the Republican slate has no one on it who worked in the private sector or has business experience. I submit that in their LIFETIME body of employment you will find Mr. Rigger's statement inaccurate. The fact is on the Democratic slate for this years election, the only person who has successful small business experience is Dominic Volpe running for County Legislator. It is small business that occupy the store fronts on Main Street, South Street, North Division Street. It is small bossiness that fill out the store fronts at Beach Shopping Center, The Welcher Avenue A&P, The Save-a-Lot, The Crossroads Plaza.

He mentions that the Republican slate has teachers as candidates. The Democratic slate has a teacher on it. Is he implying that teachers do not make good candidates, or is it only Democrat teachers that are good candidates for office. I know he is aware that the Supervisor of Putnam Valley is a teacher, as is the present Mayor Of Peekskill, and as you readers are aware, I think they are doing a wonderful job. I think My friend was overcome with exuberance.

There were numerous issues that Candidate Schmidt said he would champion if elected. It would have been better for Darren to respond to those and keep his word. Unless someone running for office has a job in the Underworld of crime, I do not think employment should be a major issue for discussion. It certainly does not affect the people as say the riverfront development or downtown development would. In the future, it is my hope that Darren returns to his promise as stated above and that this press release is nothing more than an aberration.
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THIS WEEKS "IN MY OPINION COLUMN" IN THE NCN:

Dear Readers:

This week I dicuss the Townhouse project on Simson Place know as "The Cove. 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(pagew 11) in the comentary 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:

I will be participating in Peekskill's 10th Annual Open StudiosSaturday & Sunday, June 9 & 10, 12 noon to 5pm
Linda Winters805 Central Avenue, #1Peekskill, NY 10566
Maps, information, & tours start at the Gazebo (Park & Division Streets) in downtown Peekskill, tours leave from the Gazebo 12 & 2 or browse on your own
For more information: http://peekskillartscouncil.org/
FREE PARKING in downtown area all weekend
Also of interest:Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art public reception for Size Matters on June 9 from 5-7 PM (the museum will also be open on Saturday and Sunday from 12-6PM)http://www.hvcca.com/
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FYI:
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 comminicate withm me, please make your wishes known in the e-mail.

LINKS: atom_taxi@yahoo.com (as this a yahoo adress make sure you put an unerscore (-) 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/

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/
*********************************************************************************** CABLE SHOWS TO WATCH:

ON POINT ON PEEKSKILL: Every Tuesday at 8PM chanel 15 (Peekskill only)
Hosted by:DARREN RIGGER
DON PETERS AND YORKTOWN: Every Tuesday at 10PM chanel 22
Hosted by: DON PETERS *********************************************************************************** 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 06/03/07