A RESPONSE FROM LAST WEEKS POST:
Andy:
In response to your article about the Bill Schmidt nomination and your own semi-endorsement of the GOP slate, I would like to take issue with your own remarks about the fact that GOP ticket is rife with school teachers. Apparently you think this is just great and claim that the only true small businessman is Domenic Volpe, choosing to ignore the FACTS and the REALITY of what it means to be teacher, aka a "Member of the Elite" in one of the Westchester/ Putnam school districts. As a small business owner with stores in Peekskill and Carmel (Side Effects/ NY) I will tell you that Testa, Pisani, Bolden and now Ms. Dias Stewart are 100% clueless about what it's like to own your own business, and what really astonishes me is that YOU YOURSELF should know better since you own a similar small business, Atom Taxi and know first hand what it's like to be walking that tightrope, spinning plates, with no safety net below in case you fall.
Here are just some of the reasons why NO teacher should ever be allowed to hold public office that involves unlimited spending of other people's money:
1. They only have to work 180 days a year, basically a part time job with full-time pay and Cadillac benefits.
2. They have over 3 months vacation, sick days, holidays, teachers conference days, etc. ad nauseum- paid for by small business owners like us (among others) who can't IMAGINE such a lifestyle.
3. They have health insurance that is the envy of every working class stiff in the area, again paid for by the tax-slaves of their district. In Put Valley, the teachers screamed bloody murder at the idea of contributing even a few pennies on the dollar to their health benefits while many of us, myself included, can't afford even basic health insurance. Yet we are FORCED to pay for theirs.
4. They have no idea what it's like to work 7 days a week, 10 hours or more a day to keep a business going, with no guarantee of success and no guarantee of a paycheck at the end of the week. It kind of gives you a whole other perspective on life.
5. Their continuing education is paid for, by the tax-slaves, FOREVER. This is known as a "step increase"in their salaries and is an integral part of their contracts. By the way, have you ever actually READ a teacher's contract for your district? If not, it behooves you to do so before you start spouting their propaganda. Where do you live, Yorktown? Get yourself to the District Office and tell them you want a copy of the latest teachers' contract. READ IT CAREFULLY and then tell me how great it is to have these people double dipping into political office. Oh, and while you're at it, take a look at the Superintendent's contract and the other administrators' as well.
I don't have time to continue with this posting because I have to get back to work, which is something I do 7 days a week these days since I now have two stores to run. With no financial help from the taxpayers except those beloved customers who patronize my stores. God Bless them all and sc--- Testa, Pisani and the other elites who don't even shop in the town that feeds them.
Patty Villanova
MY COMMENTS:
I have always believed small business people should be populating elected office. Not just owners but employees who walk the same tight rope. As a reader you are aware I have tried to join "the club' but was rebuffed. I singled out Mr. Volpe for that reason. It is why I champion Don Peters for Yorktown Supervisor. Both are willing to make the financial sacrifice to their business' to make the run, as was I. Have you been willing to try? As they won't let me play from their court, I through my blog and column will try to play on the court left to me, and that is the court of public awareness. BYW: The post you refer to was not a semi-endorsement nor any kind of endorsement. While it is true I have my political leanings(limited government), I will make my choice on who I feel best will serve the City of Peekskill w/ the choices given, not who might have been. The slates have been chosen, those are the choices. If one wants better choices, get more active or try a run at it yourself.
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THIS WAS FROM THE JOURNAL NEWS:
Spano takes aim at phosphorus fertilizers
By GLENN BLAINTHE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: June 4, 2007)
WHITE PLAINS - Attention Westchester homeowners: Maintaining that lush suburban lawn could get a bit more complicated if Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano gets his way.
Spano, in a move his administration says will safeguard drinking water supplies, has proposed a law that would largely ban the sale and use of phosphorus-based fertilizers for lawn care in Westchester. Such fertilizers are widely used by landscapers and do-it-yourself homeowners to keep their grass thick and green.
"What we want to do is have the product off the shelves," said Susan Gerry, a senior assistant to the county executive. "And we want to have that product information campaign on site with the retailers."
The Spano administration believes that the ban would lower the amount of phosphorus that runs off into reservoirs and spurs excessive algae growth, Gerry said. The algae depletes the supply of oxygen in the water and endangers local plant and animal life.
"It upsets the whole balance of the water body," Gerry said.
But the proposed law, which is before the county Board of Legislators and is the subject of a public hearing tonight, has raised the ire of local retailers, landscapers and even a few scientists who argue that it is based on faulty or incomplete scientific data and could actually increase the amount of phosphorus in bodies of water.
"It's just like the decision to go to war in Iraq," said John Knutson, owner of Lawn King of White Plains. "All the information is saying it doesn't make any sense. ... It's emotional rather than science."
Westchester's proposed ban was modeled on a similar law enacted by the state of Minnesota in 2002 and on prohibitions adopted in a handful of counties in Wisconsin. It forbids the application and sale of commercial lawn fertilizers "containing more than 0 percent phosphorus" in all but a handful of circumstances.
The law would be enforced by the county Department of Consumer Protection, with violators facing fines that range from as much as $50 for a first offense to $150 for subsequent offenses.
Phosphorus fertilizers, under the bill, could still be used in newly established turf or lawn areas during the first growing season or in lawns that certified laboratory tests show are in need of the substance. The product could also be used for agricultural purposes, in vegetable and flower gardens and for trees and shrubs.
"We do not want to compromise healthy lawns by implementing this law," said Gerry, who added that substitute, nonphosphorus fertilizers are available on the market, often for less money than phosphorus-containing products.
Since Spano proposed the law earlier this year, the county has received letters of support from several governmental agencies and environmental organizations, including the state Department of Environmental Conservation, Riverkeeper and the state Attorney General's Office.
Yet landscapers said Spano is pushing legislation that is not supported by any firm scientific data and ignores other sources of phosphorus, including animal waste - such as droppings from Canada geese - and decaying leaves. They also argued that phosphorus fertilizers foster thick, healthy lawns that actually restrict storm-water runoff.
"They are dealing with a very small source of phosphorus in the environment, and a healthy lawn actually traps that fertilizer," said Larry Wilson of Lawrence Landscape Design in Yonkers.
A. Martin Petrovic, a professor of turf grass science at the Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, said there's little scientific data to show that such bans - including the law enacted in Minnesota - do anything to improve water quality. In fact, Petrovic argued that Westchester's proposed ban could increase the use of organic fertilizers, such as manure or compost, which contain higher levels of phosphorus.
"If the intent is to improve water quality, I don't think it is going to do it," Petrovic said, adding a few moments later that: "It could actually make the situation worse."
A report delivered to the Minnesota Legislature in March from the state's Department of Agriculture concluded that "changes in water quality" could not be documented and recommended further research.
"We just think it is political bowing to a number of environmental groups," Donald Burton, leader of the New York State Lawn Care Association, said about Spano's proposal. "The data that we have right now suggests that the phosphate overload is not coming from the landscape community."
Reach Glenn Blain at gblain@lohud.com or 914-694-5066.
A RELATED ARTICLE IN THE JOURNAL NEWS:
Westchester Legislators expand enforcement power of Human Rights Commission
By GLENN BLAINTHE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: June 5, 2007)
WHITE PLAINS - Westchester's Human Rights Commission is getting the "teeth" it wanted to punish those it finds guilty of discrimination.
The Board of Legislators, in a unanimous vote last night, approved a measure that expands the enforcement power of the commission, including the ability to impose civil fines of up to $100,000 in housing discrimination cases and the power to seek punitive damages of up to $10,000 for any discriminatory behavior it deems egregious.
"They've given us the sufficient teeth that we've needed," Delores Braithwaite, executive director of the commission, said of the legislature's decision.
The commission handles cases of discrimination in the workplace, housing, lending and businesses of "public accommodation," such as restaurants and theaters. Its protections span such categories as race, disability, national origin, religion, gender, marital status and sexual orientation. Last year, its protections were extended to victims of domestic abuse.
Last night's move by the legislature followed weeks of debate on, and revisions to, the bill. Lawmakers repeatedly refined the bill's language and reworked the actual process that the commission would need to follow in imposing big fines and seeking punitive damages.
In the end, the board adopted the measure with little debate. County Executive Andrew Spano is expected to sign it into law.
"I think it is a very good step," said Legislator Vito Pinto, chairman of the board's Legislation Committee. "The commission, when it was established, was a living body that was subject to change, and now we have done so."
Passage of the Human Rights Commission legislation came on a busy night that also saw lawmakers approve 22 percent raises for Westchester's two elections commissioners and hold a public hearing on Spano's proposal to greatly restrict the sale of phosphorus fertilizers for lawn care.
The two commissioners who received raises, Republican Carolee Sunderland and Democrat Reginald LaFayette, would see their base salaries go up from $127,125 to $155,245 - the same amount paid to commissioners of other county departments.
"It just puts us on a par with the other commissioners," LaFayette said.
The increase was part of a series of otherwise minor pay-and-title adjustments Spano submitted to the legislature earlier this year. Money for the changes was included in this year's budget.
Spano's proposed ban on phosphorus fertilizers, which his administration says is intended to protect drinking water supplies from tainted runoff, raised the ire of local landscapers, several of whom attended the hearing and argued that it would do little to improve water quality.
Legislator Thomas Abinanti, D-Greenburgh, chairman of the board's Committee on Environment and Energy, said the issues raised by landscapers would be reviewed by his committee and the bill could be altered.
"It is a little bit more complicated than we would have hoped for, but we'll get it done," Abinanti said.
Reach Glenn Blain at gblain@lohud.com or 914
MY COMMENTS ON THESE:
Dear Readers:
A couple of weeks ago I wrote for my NCN column IN MY OPINION about the County Legislators races (see I told you it was worth the seventy-five cents to purchase the paper). In that column I talk about the cynicism regarding County Government and how many in the northern county region believe that County Government is rank with redundancies and a waste of tax payer dollars and should be abolished. The above articles prove my point.
The first article regarding phosphorous is what I describe in my column as "justifying my existence" legislation. As you see in the article there is serious disagreement on the affects this law might impose. Still instead of tabling this legislation till more accurate information is gathered, our Legislator's in order to justify their existence are going to enact it anyway. It is this rushing to appear to do something without fully venting the issue, that encourages the public cynicism, and will make it all the harder for the incumbents to retain their seats.
The second article is what I described in my column as "me too" legislation. Our federal and State taxes already pay for this kind of bureaucracy. This redundancy paid for with our tax dollars is not necessary. This is designed by our legislators so they can say, "see, we care", don't you feel good, now vote for me. Now I know I run the risk of being labeled in favor of discrimination, but that is the kind of rhetoric politicians will use to silence dissent. What I am against is our tax dollars paying for redundancy. It is redundancies such as these that the challengers will have to point out, even if they run the risk of being smeared, if they have any hope of unseating the incumbents.
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THIS WAS IN THE NORTH COUNTY NEWS:
Go Panio,’ say Yorktown Republicans
Town, county GOP chief to run for supervisor
By Martin Wilbur
Republican nominee for Yorktown Supervisor, RoseMarie Panio, (foreground) with other members of her ticket, (left to right) Terrence Murphy, Mark Drexel and Charles Rubenstein.Match-ups for Yorktown’s November elections were officially set last week as the Republican Committee announced that longtime chairwoman RoseMarie Panio would succeed outgoing Supervisor Linda Cooper as the party’s choice for supervisor.Panio, 65, will be joined on the ticket by three-term incumbent Councilman Nicholas Bianco and Yorktown school trustee Mark Drexel.Panio immediately stepped down from her post as head of the town GOP committee after serving as the chair for the past 14 years. She will do the same at the Westchester County Republican Committee by mid June, a move she said she was planning to do anyway later this year. Panio held that position for four and a half years.In explaining her decision to put herself on the line against Democratic nominee Don Peters, Panio, one of four candidates considered for the nomination, said the committee had been looking for a variety of qualities and she seemed to best fit the bill.“We were looking for commitment to community, we were looking for lots of experience in volunteering and it started to sound more and more like me,” said Panio. “I felt I would be the best person for the job.”Once she decided to become a contender, the departing party chief said she was not involved in the interview process of other hopefuls.This marks Panio’s first run for town office. She made two unsuccessful bids for the County Board of Legislators within the past decade.Panio said if she is elected she is prepared for the task, having been involved and gaining knowledge in a series of key topics facing the town. Traffic, sewers and development pressures are some of the chief issues.She explained that her nomination is in no way a sign that the Republicans were unable to find another candidate.“If I didn’t want to run I wouldn’t put myself into this,” Panio stated. “If I didn’t want to be supervisor I would not put myself through this.”Her candidacy follows Cooper’s announcement about three months ago that she would not seek another term. This will be the first time since 1991 that someone other than Cooper has been the Republican’s nominee for supervisor.Bianco, 62, a registered Conservative who once again received the Republican endorsement in bidding for his fourth term, called the slate “an interesting ticket” and looked forward to the challenge of the campaign.He and Drexel will be up against four-term Democratic incumbent James Martorano and district leader Vishnu Patel. “I’ll support the ticket like I have supported the ticket previously,” he said.Bianco, who is scheduling to walk the entire town door-to-door starting in early July, said because there will be a new administration, stability will be essential among the council members.“I think experience is needed,” said Bianco who resisted the lure of running himself for supervisor. “I have the experience and it becomes much more important because we’re going to have a new supervisor no matter what.”Drexel, 51, a department manager for emergency management for Con Edison, joins the slate after serving since September 2005 on the school board in his first run for a political office.He has long been motivated by public service and volunteer works including a stint on the Planning Board, service with the ambulance corps, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and the Yorktown Athletic Club and sees service to the town as his calling.Drexel said his emergency planning and engineering expertise would be a strong addition to the public service records of Panio and Bianco.“The issues that affect our community are local and need the most capable local people to provide the needed leadership,” Drexel said. “I am very confident that the Republican team is best for Yorktown.”With another two years remaining on the Board of Education, Drexel said if elected to the Town Board he would take the uncommon step of serving on both boards simultaneously.The Democrats announced their ticket about two months ago. Like in other municipalities in the county, the Democrats have made serious inroads in Yorktown. In 2001 the party took back the majority on the Town Board when Councilmen Matthew Metz and Louis Campisi each won the first of their two terms.Two years ago Cooper held off Peters by less than 100 in an election that required a recount of the machine votes.Democratic Committee Chairman Joseph Apicella said he was confident that with his party gaining steam and with the popular Peters and Patel joining Martorano, the Democrats will have a formidable ticket.Apicella also mentioned that he believed that Panio was unable to find another suitable candidate and made the decision to sacrifice her roles as party chairwoman to provide opposition.“They didn’t have anyone else to run for supervisor,” Apicella contended. “I think she stepped up to the plate to put together a slate.”Filling out the rest of the ticket, the party nominated Charles Rubenstein for town justice and endorsed George Oros and Terrence Murphy in the two county legislature races contested in Yorktown.
A RELATED ARTICLE IN THE NORTH COUNTY NEWS:
Yorktown: Early campaign
Democrats talk up November ticket
By Martin Wilbur
The slate of Yorktown Democrats are all smiles this week as they talk about their campaign for the November election. Pictured (front row l-r) councilman James Martorano, supervisor candidate Don Peters, council candidate Vishnu Patel, (back row l-r) county legislature hopeful Dominic Volpe, Yorktown Town Clerk Alice Roker, Yorktown Justice Ilan Gilbert and County Legislator Michael Kaplowitz.
Brimming with confidence and optimism, Yorktown’s Democrats wasted little time in launching the 2007 campaign season this week in what party leaders hope will bring greater majorities on the Town Board and County Board of Legislators.Members of the town’s Democratic slate gathered outside Town Hall early Tuesday evening with an event that could be described as part press conference and part pep rally.It occurred less than two weeks after the Republicans officially announced that longtime town and county committee chairwoman RoseMarie Panio would run for supervisor. She will be joined by popular three-term incumbent Nicholas Bianco and school board trustee Mark Drexel.Democratic Chairman Joseph Apicella called the town ticket of Don Peters, opposing Panio for supervisor, incumbent Councilman James Martorano and council candidate Vishnu Patel “an extraordinary team” that is ready to serve Yorktown.“This is the best team ever assembled and the people of Yorktown have a clear choice,” Apicella said proudly of the trio who appeared with county legislator Michael Kaplowitz, Town Clerk Alice Roker, Yorktown Justice Ilan Gilbert and Dominic Volpe, who will taken on take on Republican incumbent George Oros for the county board.Incumbents Matthew Metz and Louis Campisi also joined to show support and unity.“Do they want to go backwards and have a political party boss manage the day-to-day activities of the town or do they want a professional, seasoned, local businessman who’s never been in politics in his life given a shot at managing the job,” Apicella continued.Panio, who served 14 years as Town GOP Committee chair and four years as the party’s county chief, is relinquishing both roles.Peters said being a lifelong resident of the town and a former cop gives him a leg up on his competition.“We know the town the best because I’ve lived here all my life, worked in the police department and with the great councilmen we have behind me and delegating authority we’re going to do great here,” Peters said.Volpe, who lost a competitive race two years ago to Board of Legislators’ Minority Leader George Oros, said his 2005 performance opened eyes and is giving him greater support in Yorktown.“We’re aggressive, we’re starting sooner, we’re going to raise more money,” Volpe explained. “I think the results will be different this time, especially with the help of the Yorktown committee.”Kaplowitz vowed a united effort from the ticket that is comprised of a strong mix of veterans like himself, Martorano and Roker and political first-timers such as Patel.“Every single one of us is ready to roll up our sleeves and work together to deliver the services people need and demand here in Yorktown,” he said.
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THIS WAS IN THE NORTH COUNTY NEWS:
Peeskill: Bolden, Martinez, Dias-Stewart join Schmidt
Republicans announce full slate for November
By Sam Barron
The Peekskill Republicans officially unveiled their slate last week, headed by Bill Schmidt running for mayor.Schmidt, whose candidacy was reported two weeks ago by North County News but was not confirmed by the Peekskill GOP, was introduced by current Mayor John Testa and accompanied by the Tina Turner song Simply the Best. “Never before have the choices been so clear as to what future direction our city should take on key issues of growth, taxes, safety and quality of life,” said Schmidt. “Do we, for example, encourage responsible development of our downtown and waterfront that will in turn expand our tax base and bring new middle class families to our city that will revitalize our commercial businesses? Or do we delay and dither and let Westchester County decide our future for us?”“It’s very important that the city of Peekskill grow in a responsible way,” continued Schmidt, who would like to add more middle class to the city.Incumbents Milagros Martinez and Mel Bolden, along with newcomer Selma Dias-Stewart, complete the slate for Common Council.They will face Democratic Councilwoman Mary Foster, who is running for mayor after serving two years on the board, and incumbent councilman Don Bennett. The remainder of the Democrats’ ticket is Patricia Salvate-Riley and Joe Schuder.Schmidt made it clear that he is strongly against Westchester County subsidizing houses for Peekskill and forcing the county’s burdens onto the city.“Our opponents only want to depend on strings-attached handouts from the county,” he said during the Republican’s dinner May 31 at Taormina’s Restaurant on Hudson Avenue. “We will never agree to that approach, and we will always insist that Westchester County require every community to shoulder its fair share of the county's services burden, including the homeless.” If elected mayor, Schmidt also proposed free two-hour parking on all streets in downtown Peekskill and the elimination of metered parking. Testa, who is bowing out after three terms, admitted it was strange not seeing his name on a campaign sign and praised his party’s slate while taking several swipes at the Democrats.“I think it’s a great slate. It will being a perspective similar to what we hope to accomplish,” he said. “To have Milagros Martinez and Mel Bolden, to have someone like Selma, it’s really refreshing and exciting.”“We’re not going to skip a beat,” said Testa. When referring to the Democrats he said, “Have you heard anything they’re going to do? You’ve heard everything they’re against.” Testa said residents enjoy the flat property taxes, which Democrats opposed. Their opposition also voted down waterfront and downtown development and the addition of the Target department store. He also harped on the Democrats’ lack of experience.“They’re people with no ideas, manipulating information,” Testa continued. “We don’t talk about ourselves, we talk about Peekskill.” “At stake is the future of the city of Peekskill. If the Democrats are elected, get ready to pay high taxes and see a lot of for sale signs,” Testa warned.Peekskill Democratic Chairman Darren Rigger wasted no time in responding to the outgoing mayor’s barbs.“Clearly Mayor Testa has a high opinion of himself; if he’s not mayor, people will pack up and leave the city,” Rigger said. “The city of Peekskill is bigger then one person.”Even though he is not up for office, Testa said he will be heavily involved in this year’s election. If the Democrats manage to gain a majority on the Common Council, “everything we worked for will fall apart,” Testa said, including stoppage of the waterfront and downtown revitalization. “They’re not a group that looks out for taxpayers, they’re more of a special interest group. “Joining Schmidt is Martinez, 52, who is running for her third term as councilwoman, as is the 38-year-old Bolden.“I promise I will not give up,” Martinez said. “I believe in the people in the city of Peekskill. I want to make Peekskill greater then what it is today.”“We will succeed,” she continued. “The Target store is my top priority. It will bring 300 jobs ranging from high school students to any age.” Martinez also had high praise for her running mates, calling it “diverse” and “focused” on the citizens of Peekskill.Dias-Stewart, 52, is running for council for the first time in her career. The Peekskill Middle School guidance counselor is not even a registered Republican. “Thank you for accepting me,” she said at the dinner. “I’m not a registered Republican, but I’m so much in tune with the vision of our city. This is the best team to get the vision done.”Despite the fact that there’s no elephant on her chest, Dias-Stewart who is a political novice thinks she fits in well with her slate. Living the American Dream, she said she had an obligation to help.“I see a vibrant downtown and the waterfront restored. This will be a place where I want to live,” said Dias-Stewart, a Cornell graduate. “My father was an immigrant, my mother’s Native American. It’s a very worldly vision.” “She will really bring a perspective of freshness,” said Testa, who praised her involvement in the community. “She really relates to people, she’s a positive influence.” Testa also praised her involvement in the community.Bolden, 38, like Martinez, is running for his third term as councilman.“We’ve moved Peekskill forward tremendously,” he said. “We cannot lose ground we have fought for.”“We have people who wish to stall progress,” Bolden added. “We need to move it forward. We have to keep it going. We have a lot more plans on the table. I want to be here to see them follow through and completed. I don’t want to go backwards.”He also praised Schmidt, calling it a big loss when he was voted off the Common Council in 2005.Foster, the Democrats candidate for mayor said could not be reached for comment.But Rigger said he was not surprised by the Republicans slate, calling it the “Pataki Posse,” which has grown stale.“It’s the same old-same old, recycling failed politicians. I can’t figure out what has changed,” he said while chiding the Republicans. “Martinez works for the Board of Education, Testa is a teacher, Pisani is a teacher, Bolden is a teacher and now they added Selma Stewart, a guidance counselor at the high school. They can hold a council meeting in the teacher’s lounge of the high school.”Rigger also explained his party’s reputation of opposing progress.“They’ve (the Republicans) had the majority for decades,” he said. “Anything to complain about it’s their fault. We can’t stop anything from passing. The accusation that the minority Democratic Party has ability to stop something from passing is misleading. Because they’re the majority party, they have no one to blame other then themselves.”While the Republicans talked up their experience in public office, Rigger thinks the Democrats’ experience in the private sector is more important. “We’re pro-business, we’ve worked with business. They can’t hold a candle to our business slate. They really are government workers,” he said.“We’re going to make it an issue: they have no private sector experience.” Bennett said it would be an uphill battle for Schmidt. “I think he’s going to find it difficult to convince the public that he’s more different then John,” he said.“Unfortunately you get labeled as a party, it’s difficult to break out of the mold, to break the chain by what has been set by the current administration.”Bennett called Bolden a formidable candidate, but said of Martinez, “We’ll have to let the public decide whether she’s been an effective legislator for her constituents.”Salvate-Riley called the Republicans slate “same old face, same old ideas.” She thinks the Democrats have a wonderful chance at taking back the Common Council. “The city residents want a change,” she said. “We’re really organized, I’m expecting victory.Schuder, the other new face on the Democrats ticket, added that he was “a little surprised that there wasn’t more freshness. The City of Peekskill needs a fresh look, fresh ideas. I’m coming to government to see what I can do about business development.”The Common Council used to be all Republicans, but they have lost one seat in each of the last three elections. If the Democrats gain a seat without losing any seats, they will capture the majority.
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THIS WAS IN THE JOURNAL NEWS:
New law to protect online shoppers
By DAN WIESSNERALBANY BUREAU
(Original publication: June 5, 2007)
ALBANY - Gov. Eliot Spitzer yesterday signed a new law designed to protect shoppers who make purchases online.
The new law, which unanimously passed both houses of the Legislature two weeks ago, requires online retailers to ship orders within 30 days or offer a refund, prominently display information about the company, and maintain records of all complaints regarding the failure to ship merchandise.
The measures are already in place for phone and mail orders, but a mounting number of complaints convinced legislators to apply them to Internet shopping as well.
"Businesses were not being responsible, but our hands were tied because there were no laws," protecting consumers online, said Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, whose office received more than 1,000 complaints last year regarding online shopping. "The Internet is no longer the Wild West of commerce."
Russ Haven of the New York Public Interest Research Group said the new regulations will ultimately benefit retailers because they will give people more confidence in online shopping.
The specific provisions of the law, which takes effect immediately, include:
- Retailers cannot accept orders unless the merchandise can be shipped within 30 days.
- Advertising and promotional material must feature the name and address of the merchant, as well as conditions for refunds.
- If merchandise is not shipped after 30 days, the retailer must give the shopper the opportunity to cancel the order.
- Companies must maintain records of complaints or failures to comply with the new law so the Attorney General's Office can monitor and investigate claims, a spokesman said.
"This new law will give Internet consumers the same protections as those who make purchase by mail or by phone," said Sen. Charles Fuschillo, R-Merrick, Nassau County, who sponsored the bill. "With more and more New Yorkers making purchases online, they need assurances that the merchandise they buy arrives at their door, and in a reasonable amount of time."
Big-name companies that made their reputations off-line have already implemented such protections, but the new law will "bring everyone else along," said Ted Potrikus of the state Retail Council.
Contact Dan Wiessner at daniel_wiessner
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THIS WAS IN THE JOURNAL NEWS:
Ban on licenses for illegal immigrants upheld
By MICHAEL GORMLEYTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS
(Original publication: June 8, 2007)
ALBANY - New York has the right to deny driver's licenses to immigrants who can't prove they are in the country legally, the state's highest court ruled yesterday.
A lawsuit brought by immigrants and their advocates claimed a state Department of Motor Vehicles policy created by the Pataki administration "is essentially an effort to deny driver's licenses to immigrants not legally present in New York," the Court of Appeals decision said.
"To state the obvious, undocumented aliens lack documents," wrote Judge Robert Smith in the 5-2 decision. "And the DMV's right to insist on such documents is undisputed."
At issue was a rule issued Sept. 6, 2001, just five days before terrorists attacked the World Trade Center, requiring driver's license applicants to provide federal immigration documents to prove they were in the country legally. Some of the Sept. 11 hijackers had obtained driver's licenses. Seven of the terrorists exploited loopholes in other states that allowed people to obtain driver's licenses and ID cards by submitting sworn statements instead of proof of residency or identity.
"If you give licenses to illegal aliens you are inevitably giving licenses to terrorists and you are inviting another Sept. 11," said Peter Gadiel of Kent, Conn., the president of 9/11 Families for a Secure America who lost a son in the World Trade Center attacks. "I can't comprehend those people who want to give illegal aliens and unknown terrorists among them driver's licenses."
The state has long required applicants who don't have Social Security numbers to submit a Social Security Administration letter stating the person wasn't eligible to work in the U.S. so wasn't issued a Social Security number, but was present in the country legally. The 2001 rule made immigrants provide more proof.
The lawsuit was launched after the state started cracking down in 2004, an effort that was expected to result in the loss of driver's licenses for 300,000 illegal immigrants.
In 2005, a state Supreme Court justice in Manhattan sided with the immigrants and ordered the state to stop seizing the driver's licenses of immigrants without Social Security cards, arguing in part that the DMV couldn't enforce immigration law.
But in July 2006, the appellate division overturned that ruling and allowed the state to require that immigrants prove they are in the United States legally to get a driver's license. The Pataki administration defended the rules, saying they were put in place to combat fraud and terrorism.
"One of the most important things we can do to keep our country safe is to make sure that the people who do come here do so legally and abide by the laws," former Gov. George Pataki said yesterday.
The issue may not be over. As a candidate in 2006, Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer said he would change the rule because it doesn't improve security and instead keeps immigrants from rising from "the shadows" and creates a class of people with no public records.
A spokeswoman for Spitzer said the court decision doesn't change his plans to alter the DMV rule.
"The governor feels strongly that the state's driver license policies should not unnecessarily keep people who should have licenses from getting them, and the administration's efforts continue in earnest to review the considerations involved in making any policy change," said Christine Anderson.
Two judges dissented in yesterday's decision, saying that although the state Legislature could enact such rules, former DMV Commissioner Raymond Martinez couldn't.
"An administrative agency may not use its authority as a license to correct whatever societal evils it perceives," Judge Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick wrote for the minority.
"These policies have been implemented by administrative fiat," said Adam J. Pessin, attorney for Maria Cubas and the other immigrants. He said providing driver's licenses to immigrants with documentation is better for a community - it results in more insured drivers and a way for people to openly be part of society. It's not an effective way to fight terrorism, he argued.
About a dozen states deny driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.
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FYI: PEEKSKILL HIGH CLASS OF 76/77 REUNION:
PHS Class of 76/77 reunion
Meet and Greet July27,2007
Crystal Bay 8pm-10pm
Dinner Dance
Sat, July 28,2007
Holiday Inn, Fishkill, NY
$85 per person
Picnic on Sunday
July 29, 2007
Riverfront Green
12pm-?????
If you know of anyone from the classes of '76/77 who has not been contacted please call
Contact person: Domenic Volpe 737-9184
or E-mail DC9184@aol
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THIS WEEKS "IN MY OPINION COLUMN" IN THE NCN:
Dear Readers:
This week I dicuss real reform of school taxes. 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 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.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
***********************************************************************************SITES TO LINK TO:
YORKTOWN COUNCILMAN NICK BIANCO: www.electbianco.com
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 06/09/07
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