FYI:
Dear Readers:
I will be appearing on Don Peters cable Show "On Yorktown" chanel 22 Tuesday Night at 10PM. Yorktown and Putnam residents can catch this show.
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FYI: THE SECOND CITY WIDE PEEKSKILL TAG SALE:
Dear Readers:
Don't forget to go to City Hall and either sign up or get your map of participating homes.
The date is this Saturday 07/28/07 9AM - 4PM(?). The last one as posted in a previous blog and written about in the North County News was a blast with over thirty homes participating.
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A MESSAGE FROM PEEKSKILL REPUBLICAN MAYORAL CANDIDATE BILL SCHMIDT:
Dear Readers of the Bazzo Manifesto:
A lot has happened in the brief period since May 31 when I accepted the Republican nomination for Mayor of Peekskill along with my City Council running mates, Selma Dias-Stewart and City Council members Milagros Martinez and Mel Bolden. In particular, we've developed the key issues of our platform and sought input from a variety of citizens in putting it together. After meeting with many of you, we felt the need to unite Peekskill behind a message that every citizen can support, regardless of party or belief – and that message is:It's time to "Put Peekskill First."Citizens from all walks of life and every political affiliation -- Republicans, Independents and Democrats – both long-time residents and newcomers -- have reached out to tell me they are fed up with the mindless partisanship that threatens to bring all progress in our city to a grinding halt. What does our "Putting Peekskill First" campaign specifically mean?
It 's about making out- of-town property owners and absentee landlords who have in the past illegally subdivided and destroyed private homes, start obeying our building, safety and health codes, or be prepared to suffer stiff fines and swift enforcement if they don't.
It also means sending a clear message to the many other wealthy Westchester communities who arrogantly and illegally refuse to shoulder their fair share of "affordable", low income housing and other social services for the less fortunate of our county. To these wealthy communities we say, "Don't expect Peekskill to shoulder all your burdens any longer. Now it' s your turn now to do the right thing, as the citizens of Peekskill have done all these years."
Every bit as important, we must recognize that our downtown can't properly grow commercially and our tax base can't expand unless we balance out our huge inventory of government-assisted housing with market-rate homes that bring new residents with sufficient disposable income. This step will support and grow our retail businesses throughout the city and provide amenities and prosperity for all Peekskill citizens.
Last, our message of "Putting Peekskill First" means that any new residential development, in addition to being market rate and of quality construction, must respect our zoning and building codes and harmonize with its surrounding neighborhood.These ideas and policies are what a broad-based, common sense, good government platform should be all about – ideas and policies to benefit homeowners and renters, long time residents and newcomers, citizens of all stripes, everyone from our most fortunate to our most needy.
If you have an issue that you would like to discuss, or would like to get involved in our "Putting Peekskill First" campaign, I want to hear from you. Please contact me at councilmanschmidt@gmail.com, and give me your input. My running mates and I would also be eager to meet with you on any matter that is important to Peekskill's future.Look for more updates on this site soon dealing with the critical issues we face as a city. Together we will make a difference to end pointless partisanship and build a community for all by "Putting Peekskill First".
Sincerely,
Bill Schmidt
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FYI:
YORKTOWN DEMOCRAT CANDIDATE FOR SUPERVISOR DON PETERS & SPORTS BARN PRESENT AN AFTERNOON OF MUSIC:
This is a fund raiser for the "Friends of Don Peters".
WHEN: Saturday July 28, 2007 3PM - 5PM
WHERE: Sports Barn Field: 2918 Crompound Road(202)
CONTRIBUTION: $25.00 per-person....$10.00 children under 12 (not tax deductable)
ENTERTAINMENT: 1) MICHAEL VEGAS (world renowned Elvis Tribute)
2) STEP BACK IN TIME (the famous Doo Wop Group)
************complimentary refreshments (while suply lasts)
************bring your own chairs
************alcohol free event
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THIS WAS IN THE NORTH COUNTY NEWS:
Keeping Yorktown green
By Adriane Tillman
The 13 acres of golf holes, shady trees, green grass and idyllic bridges at Shallow Creek Golf Course, cornering Taconic Parkway and Route 6, now belong to the town.Golf course owner Cary Fields donated the nine-hole course to Yorktown on July 10 to be preserved as open space. Councilman Nick Bianco said the land is worth more than $5 million. Yorktown’s Parks and Recreation Commission must now decide how to use the land – whether for passive recreation like walking trails or for a more active recreational use. Eventually, the Commission will come up with a plan that requires town board approval. “It’s a prime piece of property that sits between Route 6 and the Taconic,” Bianco said. Developers reportedly had their eye on the property. Lowe’s and Target inquired about the site, which could have become an extension of the mall.Barring development, further congestion will be avoided on Route 6, plus wetlands and streams that affect Lake Osceola, Shrub Oak Lake and Peekskill Hollow Brook Watershed will be preserved. “The real issue is that if it was sold to developers and built upon… the impervious surface would take away the natural flow of water in that area,” said Andrew Fischer, president of Hollowbrook Water Watch. “The wetlands actually act somewhat as a sponge,” he continued. “It handles the overflow so you don’t get floods. During drought, it retains water so vegetation and animals and habitats can sustain drought. When it’s wiped out with pavement, you’ve lost part of that ecosystem.”Preserving the watershed also means fewer chemicals are needed to treat drinking water from the area, said Peekskill Mayor John Testa.Fields believed it was better to “put the property in the people’s hands,” especially considering the impact development would have on sensitive wetlands. Tax deduction benefits for such gifts may also change after this year, according to Bianco, hence the impetus to transfer the parcel sooner than later. “The carrot is in front of your nose,” said John Settembrino, a member of the Advisory Committee on Open Space, referring to the tax incentives.Although Fields poured millions into the golf course over the roughly 18 years he owned it, he says he made little money on the endeavor.“It started with the yin and ended with the yang. [The golf course] will have a better life,” Fields said.Bianco planted the seed when he spoke to groundskeeper Ron Santorelli two years ago about preserving the course as open space instead of selling to a developer.Yorktown now has 2,000 acres of open space, an amount larger than the entire town of Eastchester.Bianco says he has his eye on a more ambitious goal, though: “We want our open space to be bigger than the City of Mount Vernon.”
MY COMMENTS ON THIS:
Dear Readers:
It has been said that success has many father's but failure is an orphan. Witness the truth of that adage in the recent donation of the golf course on Rt. 6 to the town. I even received an e-mail from one politico taking credit(complete w/ picture) where none was due. There were even rumors on how one politico stole the idea from another. Truth be told, Councilman Nick Bianco worked on this for two years to make this happen. True enough that there was not much the original owner or future prospective could have done with said property. This does not diminish one iota the generosity to the town by Cary Fields. This will be a gift that keep on giving for generations to come, and for that Councilman Bianco deserves all the accolades for the foresight.
Now for the future of this property, the town will set up a committee to come up with ideas. As a citizen of Yorktown who will definitely not be asked to sit on that committee, I still have an idea. As there has been much talk of adding another senior center to our town, preferably on Rt.6 side, how about the studying of the feasibility of using the two existing buildings on this site for that center. They have everything including a kitchen and ample parking. It still leaves the ability to rent out the grounds for outdoor events and family picnics. Something to consider.
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FYI: WHAT'S HAPPENING AT SUSAN'S RESTURANT (North 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"
http://www.blogger.com/
$30.00 Prix Fixe Meal Includes Movie Ticket
Fri., Jul 20, Gottfried Stoger and The Free Spirits Sarah Jane Cion, Piano and Max pollack Tap and Percussion
Sat., Jul 21 The Bennett Harris Blues Band http://www.blogger.com/
Fri., Jul 27 Pete Levin http://www.blogger.com/
Sat., Jul 28 Carlos Colina and The Straight Up Blues Band http://www.blogger.com/
Fri., Aug. 3 The House Band*** performing outside at the Gazebo
Sat., Aug 4 Stew Cutler http://www.blogger.com/
Fri., Aug 10 TBA
Sat., Aug 11 Peekskill Jazz and Blues Celebration John Abercrombie Trio with SPECIAL GUEST John Scofield, Richie Hart Trio, Gregg Westhoff's Westchester Swing Band, Reegal Beegal, and The Sraight Up Blues Band
Sat., Aug 18 The Kyle Tucker Band http://www.blogger.com/
Fri., Aug 24 Jerry Malkin Trio
Sat., Aug 25 Chip Larison and The Catfight Blues Band
Saturday, August 11th Peekskill Jazz and Blues Celebration 4:00PM to 11:00 PM North Division Street.
Sponsored by the Peekskill Business Improvement District, Anheuser Busch, D. Bertoline & Sons, Inc
John Abercrombie Trio with Special Guest John Scofield
Reegal Beegal
Gregg Westhoff's Westchester Swing Band
Richie Hart Trio
Carlos Colina and The Straight Up Blues Band
*Admission is Free!!!
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
Late Night Menu until 12:00 Midnight Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
Sunday Brunch
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THIS WAS IN THE JOURNAL NEWS:
State Legislature was flooded with 15,670 bills this year, as usual
By CARA MATTHEWSALBANY BUREAU
(Original publication: July 15, 2007)
ALBANY - In the furiously frenetic last days of the state legislative session last month, when lawmakers found themselves digging through mounds of paper to find bills that came up at the last minute, Assemblywoman Sandra Galef, D-Ossining, sought help from her laptop-equipped next-door neighbor in the chamber.
Assemblyman Charles Lavine, D-Nassau County, had asked others for help moving his desk and the thousands of bills underneath it (the state constitution requires that they be in print and placed on lawmakers' desks) so he could find a plug for his laptop and look up bills that way.
In the six-month session, 9,285 bills were introduced in the Assembly and 6,385 in the Senate - by far the most of any state. Of the 15,670 total, just 790, or 5 percent, passed both houses.
A lot of people have the same philosophy about bill introductions as they do about campaign donations - "Everybody should be able to contribute what they want to. So it's like ... if you've got great ideas, just keep doing it," said Galef, who has proposed legislation annually since 1995 to limit bills proposed per member. "The problem is, it's a lot of work on people."
New York stands alone when it comes to the volume of legislation considered each year, and close to the bottom among all states for its approval rate, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. In 2005, there were 15,379 pieces of legislation proposed, with 5 percent making it through both houses. The next highest state was New Jersey, whose lawmakers voted for 7.9 percent of 7,342 bills. Only Massachusetts and Pennsylvania had lower passage rates - 4.1 percent and 2.8 percent, respectively.
Galef said the legislation, which would limit each member to 100 bills in a two-year cycle, makes sense because:
- There are too many bills for lawmakers, legislative committees and staff to effectively analyze and debate each session.
- Members introduce bills similar or identical to legislation already pending, rather than seeking to collaborate with colleagues.
- Some are "dead-end" bills introduced only to score political points with constituencies.
There would be exceptions for bills that repeal sections of law, diminish a mandated program, are requested by local governments or are technical in nature.
Each year, there are countless bills that seek to rename parts of highways, get new license plates approved, get specific people added to the state's pension system and even seek to do things like change the state insect to a pink-spotted ladybug and make sweet corn the official vegetable of New York.
Galef's bill, which seven Democrats and 20 Republicans are co-sponsoring, projects a savings of $13 million per session, with "substantial indirect savings through reduction of local mandates and streamlining regulations."
The state Budget Division said $12.8 million was appropriated this year for the joint Assembly/Senate Bill Drafting Commission.
Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, D-Greenburgh, opposes the measure.
"A bill is an idea," said Brodsky, who heads the Assembly's Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee and introduced 217 bills. "I am puzzled by people who think you can have too many ideas."
"The issue isn't how many bills anybody has, it's whether the ideas are good or not," he said.
Mark Hansen, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, R-Brunswick, Rensselaer County, said the Senate majority would oppose legislation to restrict proposals.
"Most states don't have limits on the number of bills that can be introduced because that could limit the ability of a lawmaker to represent his constituents," he said.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, doesn't like the measure, either. "The Assembly majority does not favor limiting bill introductions because it does not want to hinder an Assembly member's ability to represent the needs of their constituents," spokesman Bryan Franke said.
Other arguments against limits are that they interfere with legislators' abilities to respond to emergencies and lead to bills that are more general in nature and scope rather than targeted to specific problems, a National Conference of State Legislatures report said.
About 20 chambers around the country have restrictions, said Brenda Erickson of the NCSL. Several chambers tried using limits but have eliminated the practice.
In the California Senate, the maximum number of bills per session is 50, an NCSL report said. The limit is 40 in the California Assembly. In the Florida House, members can file up to six for a regular session, with a number of exemptions. The North Dakota Senate does not permit senators to introduce more than three bills after the 10th legislative day. In Montana, lawmakers can give away unused bill allowances.
New York University Law School's Brennan Center for Justice, which in 2004 dubbed New York's Legislature the most dysfunctional in the country, has suggested a maximum of 20 per Assembly member and 30 for senators. With so many bills introduced, lawmakers can't possibly pay attention to all of them, said Suzanne Novak, deputy director of the center's Democracy Program.
"It's a matter of inefficiency to have that many bills introduced and so few bills passed," she said.
If legislators uniformly attended committee meetings, didn't have so many committee assignments, were required to hold hearings when a certain number of committee members requested them, and had to complete detailed committee reports, they wouldn't have time to introduce all these bills, Novak said.
Because it is so hard to move bills, it is easy for legislators to hide behind the bills they've introduced and say they tried to get them passed, Novak said.
The number of bills introduced varies widely among lawmakers. Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell IV, D-New York City, didn't propose any. Assemblyman Joseph Morelle, D-Irondequoit, Monroe County, had 208. State Sen. Thomas Morahan, R-New City, had 257.
Morelle did not respond to requests for comment.
Morahan spokesman Ron Levine said 68 pieces of his legislation passed the Senate and 34 made it through both houses, a number the senator is pleased with. Part of the reason for the large number of bills is Morahan's chairmanship of the Senate's Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Committee, Levine said. Advocates, practitioners and others frequently propose changes in state law, he said.
Galef said she favors exceptions for committee heads, since they often submit bills proposed by a state agency or the governor, and she might consider increasing the 100-bill limit in the Senate, since districts are larger.
Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco, R-Schenectady, believes it's often a waste of time to pass one-house bills, spokesman Phil Oliva said. Tedisco signed onto Galef's bill.
"We think that 100 bills would be more than adequate if they were focused on the real issues facing the people of New York state - upstate jobs, gas price relief and an energy plan," Oliva said.
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THIS WAS IN THE JOURNAL NEWS:
Peekskill sues affordable housing developer
By MARCELA ROJASTHE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: July 18, 2007)
PEEKSKILL - City officials announced yesterday that they are suing a well-known affordable housing developer that has defaulted on several projects meant to revitalize the downtown.
The city is seeking to retrieve four of five properties it sold to CPC Resources in 2004, Mayor John Testa said. The company has refused to relinquish the parcels unless the city gives it $1.8 million incurred in expenses, Testa said.
"They want the citizens of Peekskill to reimburse them for their mistakes," said Testa, standing in front of a fenced-in, empty Main Street lot. "I think this is unconscionable and I'm not going to let this happen."
CPC Resources issued a statement yesterday saying it had acted in good faith and the city had created "repeated impediments" in the construction effort.
"We will vigorously defend against this lawsuit," the statement said. "The suit is without merit and our answering papers and counterclaims will speak for themselves."
CPC Resources has 30 days to respond to the lawsuit, which was filed last week in state Supreme Court in White Plains.
The large-scale, $5 million venture was to include the rehabilitation of brick buildings at 994 Main St. and 13 N. Division St., along with the new construction of artist residences and retail outlets at 921 Diven St. and 922 and 974 Main St. The agreement called for the entire project to be finished by February 2006, Testa said.
To date, CPC Resources has completed only the restoration of 994 Main St., a building that houses ITI Strategies, officials said. A "reverter clause" in the contract says that, if deadlines were missed, the properties would be returned to the city, Testa said.
Construction came to a halt in August, officials said, and, since then, the city has sent several default notices. CPC Resources admitted that it could not move forward with the developments, Testa said.
"The cost of the project was more than they could absorb," he said.
Testa faulted CPC, saying it had used a contractor that performed shoddy work. When construction did begin last year, much of the initial work did not pass inspection, said Brian Havranek, Peekskill's director of planning and development and code assistance.
The city had expected to use $1.2 million in funds it had from the state Department of Housing and Community Renewal to subsidize the residential component of 922 Main St. and 921 Diven St., including 10 lofts and six townhouses, Testa said. The city had given $57,845 of that toward the first payment of the project.
The lawsuit also seeks to recoup that money, Havranek said.
Peekskill was looking to work with Westchester County, which has a developer for 922 Main St. and 921 Diven St., officials said. But CPC turned down negotiations to hand over the properties, Havranek said.
"If we could have made that work, that would have been the direction we would have gone," Havranek said.
Several people are interested in rehabilitating 13 N. Division St., Testa said.
CPC Resources is a for-profit subsidiary of the Community Preservation Corp., formed in 1992 to develop affordable housing in underserved areas of New York and New Jersey. CPC Resources, which has offices in Hawthorne, has completed more than 7,000 residential units, along with 500 units in construction and 1,400 units in pre-development, according to its Web site.
CPC Resources paid $115,000 for 922 and 974 Main St., and 921 Diven St.; and $65,000 for 994 Main St. and 13 N. Division St., city Planner Anthony Ruggiero said.
Since the early 1990s, Peekskill has worked to distinguish itself as a vibrant artists district. There are some 100 art lofts in the downtown area, Ruggiero said. The city is committed to the completion of the unfinished projects, Testa said.
"The city did everything we could in our power to make this a success. Unfortunately, we were led down the path of nonsuccess," Testa
said. "I'm amazed that such a large corporation would allow their reputation to be destroyed."
Reach Marcela Rojas at mrojas@lohud.com or 845-228-2271.
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THIS WAS AN EDITORIAL IN THE NORTH COUNTY NEWS:
Politricks in Peekskill
Councilwoman Mary Foster in Peekskill, the Democratic candidate for Mayor, should know better than to think that, just as election season is ready to enter Round 2, she could engage her loyal opposition in a serious, productive discussion about the inarguably core issue of eminent domain. They’d rather crack wise.The Republican response, overly orchestrated as to be too clever by half, was a passion play powered by political partisanship, nothing more, or less.We remain in the neutral corner for now in pugilistic Peekskill, waiting for the fight to progress to late-round action. But ideologies and governance styles aside, the way the battle is being joined leaves much to be desired, rhetorically speaking. All that the very business-like and purposeful Ms. Foster proposed was an ordinance, not that Peekskill be sold down the river to the inmates at Sing Sing. The sum and substance of her motion is as follows:When an economic development activity is designed or intended to increase tax base, tax revenues, employment or general economic health but does not result in the transfer of land to public possession, occupation and enjoyment, that economic development activity is not a public use. The public benefits of increased tax base, tax revenues, employment, or general economic health do not constitute a public use.
Superficial – not!Agree or not – and it takes a fair amount of research and consideration to absorb and analyze all the ramifications of her proposition -- it is thoughtful and earnest enough on the face of it to deserve a more substantive and less-posturing response than the GOP’s swatting it away as “superficial.” The Foster plan for eminent domain is but a starting point, yes, but superficial? Hardly.Tossing around such words as superficial for sheer effect, however, does smack of superficial. It is what you sawy when you have nothing else to say.That kind of freeze-dried critique also presumes an electorate of limited intellect who will buy such dime-store politricks in place of genuine, collective compromise.Taking it a step further, the GOP’s jerry-built press release responding to Mary Foster’s ordinance draft is a curiously transparent case study in disingenuousness. It’s hard to believe all the quotes originated with the people to which they are attributed.
Psychic predictionIn some cases, the speaker should disavow any ownership of the words put in her moouth. Case in point: Councilwoman Milagros Martinez’s clairvoyant statement that, “We should wait until [Bill Schmidt] is mayor before we address this issue. Foster’s motivation is purely political.” Actually, we prefer that to a motivation that is impurely political – or purely impolitic. We can talk gibberish with the best of them. These people sound like amateur actors being fed stilted dialogue, and it hurts to listen. You can choke on the hypocritical remarks – as if it’s anything other than political to presumptuously postpone a serious discussion with the patronizing reason that the election already is over – no need to vote, folks! We’ll decide for you.As a final flourish, the GOP’s statement dabbles in demagoguery by declaring, “Most people in Peekskill believe,” as a springboard for launching its opposition to homeless shelters and “income-based property of any kind.”Try this glittering generalization on for size: Most politicians secure in their beliefs and running from a position of strength do not feel the need to fall back on empty expressions like “Most people believe...” When you start indoctrinating “the people” as to what it is they believe, that’s a cue for them to stop believing in you.
Round 1 scorecardIt appears to the judges scoring Round 1 that Ms. Foster came out of her corner with a low-key, rope-a-dope strategy that put the GOP on the defensive with her ordinance. Inexplicably, the Republicans’ own release posits Mr. Schmidt not as a mayoral candidate but as “Foster’s mayoral opponent,” not only literally defining him by her, but also making her sound like the home team. Whoever is advising the Peekskill Republicans, gaffes like that make us suspect it’s someone a little less savvy than Karl Rove.Credit Ms. Foster with being sly and effective by inducing the GOP to over-react and, in the process, flail wildly while dancing around the ring, but not landing many punches. We eagerly await Round 2.
MY COMMENTS ON THIS:
Dear Readers:
In last weeks issue of the NCN (07/18-24/07) on page five, an article by reporter Sam Barron and an editorial(above) bring to the public a proposal by Democratic Mayoral candidate Mary Foster regarding eminent domain. You can read the entire proposal in my blog "The Bazzo Manifesto: http://bazzman.blogspot.com/
post title "Who Is The Master Of Your Eminent Domain".
I strongly disagreed with the Supreme Court's "Kelo" decision. I believe that the Supreme Court in expanding the powers of government by changing "public use" to "public good" over stepped it's bounds. The constitution they are sworn to uphold is a limiting document in relation to the power of government's relationship to the people. Justice Stevens in writing the majority opinion left open the right of municipalities to narrow the scope of the decision.
However this proposal by Democratic Mayoral candidate Foster does no such thing. It still leaves open the interpretation of "public good". What it does is ban private developers from using eminent domain from exercising "public good". It leaves intact governments use of eminent domain for "public good". In other words, private business cannot trample on the rights of the individual property owner but the government still can. I believe neither should.
Deputy Mayor Pisani(whose comments you can read in the above mentioned blog post)rightly points out this fatal flaw. This proposal does not return eminent domain to "public use". Even though both Mayor Testa and Republican candidate for Mayor Bill Schmidt will not remove this new tool of government as not to allow possible (stubborn) property owners from feeling they won the "land lottery", they have also to date not used this tactic to obtain the properties necessary for the proposed developments. I understand their position, though I disagree. If a property owner is lucky enough to have the forethought(or luck) to have won the "land lottery" good for them. Our founding fathers did not believe that government should decide how much profit a citizen may make.
Where Democratic Mayoral candidate Foster's proposal fails is that it unfairly still allows the government to use this new tool for it's own benefit. If private business cannot benefit for this "public good", neither should government. Yet, in her own words she still allows this (North County News pg.5 paragraph 6). I believe that until a proposal is introduced that limits both private developers and government their ability to trample on the rights of private property owners by going back to the original intent of "public use" that this particular proposal should rightly be defeated.
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THIS WAS IN THE NORTH COUNTY NEWS:
Battle lines drawn over rezone exemption bill
By Martin Wilbur
Local elected officials vowed to fight a proposed state bill that calls for all property to be exempt from local moratoriums or from being rezoned as long as the owner has filed an application with the municipality.The measure, introduced by Assemblyman Adam Bradley, would exempt parcels for up to six years as long as the owner has submitted an application for a site plan, subdivision or other development plan approval.An environmental assessment form or draft environmental impact statement, if required, must also be filed for the property owner to receive the exemption.Calls placed to Bradley’s district office were not returned by the assemblyman, but a copy of the bill’s intent made it clear that the legislator believes some municipalities have taken advantage of the ability to change zoning and local ordinances and impose building bans.“Municipal action which changes the rules midstream, when it is not based on legitimate concerns, constitute an impairment of a property owner’s rights by preventing the owner from having the liberty to use his land, it often devalues the property and causes substantial additional expenses to the property owner,” the legislation states in part.Representatives of a few local town boards reacted strongly to the legislation, arguing that it wipes out the practice of home rule and permits a Big Brother oversight to hover over local governments.Cortlandt Supervisor Linda Puglisi pledged to take the steps needed to make sure the bill is defeated or withdrawn.“The town of Cortlandt will lead the charge in that regard and will hire a bus to go to Albany and fight this,” said Puglisi who wondered whether special interests or lobbyists were behind the bill.Councilman John Sloan, who was equally miffed, joined Puglisi in questioning the timing and motivation for the bill.“They come off one of the most unproductive sessions in their history—and that’s saying something because they do squat—and they come up with this,” he said.Sloan indicated he would reach out to neighboring municipalities so they can join together in fighting the measure. During the past week he contacted Yorktown Councilman Nicholas Bianco, who then relayed the information to the remainder of the Yorktown council.A work session in the near future will be scheduled to discuss the matter, Bianco said.Meanwhile, Somers Supervisor Mary Beth Murphy called the proposal “an affront to home rule status.”She said zoning changes and moratoriums are legitimate and effective tools municipalities use that should not be easily circumvented. “This proposal in its current form really tries to take local authority from the municipalities,” Murphy said.But one local lawyer, who has frequently represented property owners and developers before various boards, said it is time for stronger protection of individual owners’ rights.Yorktown attorney Albert Capellini said that in recent years as a wave of anti-development sentiment has taken hold the pendulum has swung too far in favor of those looking to block new projects.As a result, many property owners’ right are being impinged, often at great expense and hardship.“It’s nice to see that somebody is trying to do something to bring that pendulum back,” Capellini said.Assemblywoman Sandy Galef (D/Ossining) said a vote may be a ways off since the bill is currently being examined in two legislative committee, rules and government.With the legislature not due to go back into regular session before January, any action will have to wait until at least next year, she said.Galef did say there is a small but steadily gowing groundswell of opposition against the bill, particularly in Albany.Other than Galef, the remainder of the Assembly’s Westchester contingent has either supported or sponsored the bill, according to Puglisi
MY COMMENTS ON THIS:
Dear Readers:
You can read my comments on this issue in next weeks issuse of the North County News In my Column IN MY OPINON, on sale 07/26/07
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THIS WEEKS "IN MY OPINION COLUMN" IN THE NCN:
Dear Readers:
This week I discuss how Peeksill deals with political lawn signs. 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 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 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/
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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 22
Hosted by: DON PETERS
YORKTOWN WATCHDOG: Every Friday at 9:30 PM on channel 22
Hosted By: ED CHIFFON
LEGISLATORS REPORT: Saturday and Sunday at various times on chanel 22
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 07/21/07
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