BREAKING NEWS IN PEEKSKILL:
RE; A MESSAGE FROM PEEKSKILL COUNCILMAN ANDREW TORRES:
Hello Andy,
I'm sending you this email to let you know that I am running for my seat on the Peekskill Council. You asked me a few months ago if I was going to run and at that time I was just starting out and I wanted to learn more about my job and learn more about Peekskill and it residents. I now feel I am able to step up to the plate.
Andy Torres
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OLD STONE CHURCH UPDATE:
Contacts: Thomas DeChiaro – (914) 262-7313 - Cell
Andrew J. Campanelli, Attorney for Plaintiffs - (516) 746-1600
e-mail: tomde@TheWineryAtStGeorge.com - Web: www.TheWineryAtStGeorge.com
PO BOX 32 - Baldwin Place, NY 10505
Phone: 914.455.4272 - Fax: 914.455.4273
Winery files $30,000,000 Federal Lawsuit against Yorktown, Bianco, Campisi, Oros & other town officials…
Yorktown, NY June 11th, 2008 – The Winery at St. George and owner Thomas DeChiaro filed a $30,000,000 Federal Civil Rights Action in the United States District Court, in the Southern District of New York against the Town of Yorktown. In addition to the Town, the following individuals were also named as defendants:
1. NICHOLAS BIANCO – Town Board Member
2. LOUIS CAMPISI - Town Board Member
3. GEORGE OROS – Westchester County Legislator
4. LINDA COOPER – Former Town Supervisor
5. WILLIAM GREGORY – Town Building Inspector
6. BRUCE BARBER – Environmental Code Officer
7. JOHN TEGEDER – Director of Planning
Within his complaint, Mr. DeChiaro asserts that local Yorktown officials violated his federally protected rights to file various land use applications by unreasonably preventing him from operating a farming operation and winery in Westchester County in retaliation against Mr. DeChiaro for having sought protection from the State of New York.
Mr. DeChiaro further asserts that, upon information and belief, one or more Yorktown officials sought to punish him for having rebuffed requests to pay what Mr. DeChiaro perceived to be "political graft monies" which had apparently been paid to one or more Yorktown officials by the previous owner of Mr. DeChiaro's property.
The complaint, which totals over eighty pages, and is accompanied by an Affidavit from the former owner of Mr. DeChiaro's property, as well as over a dozen exhibits, details efforts by Town Board Member Nicholas Bianco and former Town Supervisor, Linda Cooper, to defeat virtually every application which Mr. DeChiaro has filed with County and State authorities in furtherance of his efforts to pursue his vineyard and winery operation.
Within his Federal complaint, Mr. DeChiaro further alleges that, in an effort to conceal their "unlawful" actions, the defendants, including former Supervisor Linda Cooper, "deliberately destroyed" town records to eliminate evidence of their conduct, including intentionally deleting all computer files within a directory which was entitled "Old Stone Church" (Mr. DeChiaro's property) which had been maintained on a hard drive on the Town’s computer system.
Mr. DeChiaro's attorney, Andrew J. Campanelli has stated that, "As detailed within the federal complaint, we are dealing with an abuse of power of the most insidious type, by Yorktown officials."
"As has been confirmed by the previous owner of the Old Stone Church, when a property owner seeks to employ their property for a commercial use in Yorktown, they can expect to receive requests for cash payments from one or more Yorktown officials. As Mr. DeChiaro has learned, if the property owner rebuffs those requests, he can expect Yorktown officials to cause the denial of any and all land use applications filed with the Town, and to wield their political influence to cause applications pending before the County and State to be denied as well.
This conduct is beyond outrageous, constitutes a blatant violation of Mr. DeChiaro's rights, and should never be tolerated by any owner of property in Yorktown or anywhere else. Contrary to the apparent beliefs of one or more Yorktown officials, property owners are vested with Constitutional rights to use their property as they see fit, and those rights fall squarely within the protections of the United States Constitution and the 1st and 14th Amendments."
Direct Requests for the full complaint to: tomde@TheWineryAtStGeorge.com
Thomas DeChiaro
The Winery at St. George
PO Box 32
Baldwin Place, NY 10505
(914) 455-4272
(914) 455-4273 - fax
MY COMMENTS ON THIS:
Dear Readers:
You all know how I feel about the need for this business to open. I think the town is wrong to keep moving the bar and delaying what should be a thriving business and a jewel of Mohegan Lake. I also know the new administration would like to see this open. However, you must remember, these are accusations only. It is not always true "where there is smoke there is fire." The owner of St. George Winery will have to go along way to convince me that Councilman Bianco is not honest. I, in my dealings with him have found him to be a man of utmost principal, sometimes maddeningly so. I urge you not to rush to judgement. Let this play out and see where the chips land.
I assure you, if there is anything at all true in this, I will be the first to tell you. This is a promise.
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A MESSAGE FROM THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY REPUBLICANS:
RE: EMINENT DOMAIN
Dear Friends:
As you may know, for the past few years I have been trying to pass a law in the County Legislature, along with County Leg. Tom Abinanti, which will give Westchester property owners, both residential and commercial, greater protection against the reckless use of eminent domain. I am strongly opposed to the use of eminent domain by local governments to take private property for the sole purpose of providing it to another private entity for a private development. In my mind, this is legal theft of private property, and the government has no business favoring one private property use over another under the guise of eminent domain. These decisions should be made in the private marketplace outside of governmental interference.
Of course, I support the proper use of eminent domain for legitimate municipal purposes (parks, roads, bridges, etc.) as the 5th Amendment to the US Constitution was originally meant to do.
Unfortunately, due to lobbying by developers and special interests, our law has been blocked by my colleagues and never even came up for a vote.
Legislator Abinanti and I recently reintroduced the eminent domain reform law. We are not giving up and will keep pushing our colleagues in a bipartisan manner to vote to protect fundamental property rights instead of catering to special interests.
If you would like to help us pass this law, please feel free contact me. If you would like to see a draft of the law, I would be happy to email it to you. Below is the text from our press release on this issue:
ABINANTI AND MAISANO RENEW CALL FOR LAW TO PROTECT COUNTY PROPERTY OWNERS - Legislation proposes Eminent Domain Reform
"Government should not take private property unless it is necessary to meet a real public need, not just because it prefers one use over another or one developer over another," said County Legislator Thomas J. Abinanti (D, I, WF-Greenburgh) as he and County Legislator James Maisano (R-New Rochelle) reintroduced legislation that would limit the County's power to condemn private property. The legislation also prohibits the County from contributing funds to a development that uses eminent domain to take private property for private use.
"I have witnessed in my own district how eminent domain can be used by powerful developers to intimidate property owners," said Legislator Maisano. "We must protect property owners, especially those that may not have the resources to defend themselves against these developers."
Over thirty five states and localities have taken steps to enact legislation to prevent misuse of eminent domain, and Abinanti and Maisano believe Westchester County should lead this reform in New York.
Thanks,
Jim Maisano
County Legislator
District 11
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Date: 06/12/2008
Office: Bruno
Title: SENATE APPROVES CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO PROTECT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM UNFUNDED MANDATES
http://www.senate.state.ny.us/pressreleases.nsf/2e0e86fa9105ed5a85256ec30061c0be/2cd6835ff10edbf5852574660067c6f8?OpenDocument
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Thursday, June 12, 2008
http://www.senate.state.ny.us
SENATE APPROVES CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO PROTECT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM UNFUNDED MANDATES
The State Senate today approved a constitutional amendment, sponsored by Senator Betty Little (R,C,I-Queensbury), that would make compliance with unfunded mandates voluntary for local governments, school districts and special districts.
"Our State Constitution affords New Yorkers many protections and it's time we amend it to include another -- protection against unfunded State mandates," said Little, Chair of the Senate Local Government Committee.
"Unfunded mandates take local decisions out of local officials' hands, hindering their ability to govern and costing taxpayers unnecessarily. Any mandate that is good enough to pass on to local governments should be good enough to justify a State expenditure," Senator Little said.
“The Senate has acted repeatedly on measures to ease the burden of unfunded mandates on local governments and local property taxpayers,” Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno said. “This amendment would give local governments greater authority and flexibility to make local decisions related to mandates that come from the State bureaucracy.”
An unfunded mandate is defined in the proposed resolution as a provision of law that requires affected local jurisdictions, in the statewide aggregate, to spend more money to provide services. Any associated increases in cost would be offset by (1) funding to carry out the new mandate and (2) savings associated with other mandate relief.
If passed by the Assembly, the proposed amendment would need approval next year by a newly elected Legislature and could appear on the November 2009 election ballot for statewide voter consideration.
The bill was sent to the Assembly.
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A MESSAGE FROM CONGRESSMAN JOHN HALL:
Cortlandt Democratic Committee Ossining Democratic Committee
Peekskill Democratic Committee Philipstown Democratic Committee
Putnam Valley Democratic Committee Yorktown Democratic Committee
Dr. Richard Becker
and
Domenic Volpe
Cordially Invite You to Brunch in Support of Congressman John Hall
At the Home of
Bruce Krasting
17 Applebee Farm Rd.
Croton-on-Hudson ♦ New York
Sunday June 29, 2008 from 12:00 Noon to 2:00 PM
(Casual Attire)
Patron $250 Supporter $100 Friend $50
Please RSVP by to Darren Rigger at 845-598-3971 or djrigg@aol.com
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A MESSAGE FROM CANDIDATE FOR STATE ASSEMBLY WILLIAM GOULDMAN:
Note: This article appeared in the
Putnam County News & Recorder
June 11, 2008
An Open Letter to Assemblywoman Galef
Reprinted at the Request of the Writer
Dear Mrs. Galef
Too much is at stake to allow the assembly to continue to do business as usual. In these times of economic pain the people expect more from their elected representatives. It is an affront and an act of extreme cynicism to deliberately delay the release of the report of the
New York State Commission on Property Tax Relief so that the State Assembly could let yet another year go by without bringing legislation
to a vote that would cap property taxes.
Even more appalling however, was the testimony that you received on June 2nd, 2008, from the New York State Association of Counties, which shockingly disclosed that people who are delinquent in paying their property taxes received tax rebate checks from the State Legislature in 2007. Counties paid an astonishing $353 million to these tax delinquents. At a time when New York is in financial duress the legislature must immediately act to fix this outrageous situation. I am calling upon you, as the Chair of the Assembly's Committee on Real Property Taxation, to see to it that the assembly does not take its summer recess until it passes legislation that ends this irresponsible abuse. I further urge that you insist that the assembly vote on the recommendations made by the Suozzi Commission before it adjourns.
The information that has been brought to your attention places a moral and perhaps a legal imperative for the legislature to act before another cent of taxpayer money is squandered.
Sincerely,
William J. Gouldman
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A MESSAGE FROM ASSEMBLYWOMAN SANDRA GALEF:
June 11, 2008
To the Editor:
Earlier this week, I hosted a public forum with Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi who explained the proposal from the New York State Commission on Property Tax Relief, which he chairs. The forum brought up many views: We heard from anti-tax groups, supporters of an income-tax based system of taxation, teachers’ union members, PTA representatives, business consortiums, and school boards. Needless to say, the opinions were wide-ranging.
We must act swiftly enacting legislation to begin the hard work to fundamentally change New York State’s property tax burden. The solution will help to keep people in New York, attract and keep more businesses in our state, and critically, make it easier for people to feel good about investing in quality education. This should not be a hard choice to make, but rather something that people understand will embellish their communities without compromising their livelihoods.
Having spent much time studying this issue from my position as Chairperson of the Assembly Committee on Real Property Taxation, including speaking with constituents and interest groups across the spectrum, I understand how complex property taxes are. Finding a solution will require a great deal of compromise, as well as some bold moves.
I am strongly leaning toward supporting the Commission’s preliminary recommendations. I believe they are based on a true understanding of the difficult and complex issues we face in New York. A property tax cap would force us to make some tough decisions. My circuit breaker bill, (A1575A/S1053A) in conjunction with a tax cap that mirrors the consumer price index, accompanied by a complete look into reducing or eliminating unfunded mandates can turn our state economy around and start to undo some of the damage that has been done. Tom Suozzi put it well when he said, “The bottom line is people will always disagree, but the answer cannot be to do nothing. We have to solve this problem. To get something done is going to require compromise.”
I encourage everyone to voice their views and opinions. Many details have yet to be finalized. However, continuing the status quo is not the answer. We need to make changes to make our state more competitive and lower the tax burden for our residents. We must start our work now or we will never accomplish the task at hand.
Sincerely,
Sandy Galef
Assembly Member, 90th AD
(914) 941-1111
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A MESSAGE FROM STATE ASSEMBLYMAN GREG BALL:
SHOE LEATHER EXPRESS KEEPS ROLLING!!!
In the past three weeks Assemblyman Ball and dozens of volunteers have knocked on over 5,000 doors! Leaving literature and winning over voters, one door, one neighborhood, one town at a time, the Assemblyman’s Grassroots Shoe Leather Express is rolling over the competition. Nearly 2,000 signatures have now been collected to get Greg Ball on the ballot! The grassroots support is overwhelming!! Once again, Ball’s army of volunteers is poised to beat back and roll over the Putnam County Political Machine!
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SALEM GOLF CLUB GOLF TOURNAMENT
TOMORROW!!! Monday June 16, 2008, 11AM Registration & Lunch, 1PM Shotgun & 6PM Cocktails and Dinner – Still room for a few more players! Feel free to show up at 11AM Registration! Also, dinner, silent auction and cocktails open to the Public! So, please stop by and bring friends! Need more info on golf? http://www.ball4ny.com/events/golfhome.htm
TOMORROW’S SILENT AUCTION, 6PM-8PM: Yankees, Giants and Mets Tickets; Specialty Jewelry; a Week in West Palm Beach; Golf Foursomes; Designer Men’s Suits; Teeth Whitenings; Spa Packages and Airline Tickets!!
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR CAMPAIGN
Please consider volunteering to write a letter to the editor. It’s an easy way to help Greg and set the record straight or get a point across. If you would like to write a letter to the editor, please reply to this email.
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NRA ENDORSES BALL
NYSRPA NAMES BALL “LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR”
Last week, Ball was awarded an “A+” rating for his legislative efforts in support of the Second Amendment and officially endorsed by the National Rifle Association (NRA). “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to represent and support thousands of New York State hunters and sportsmen that have not had a voice on the Assembly for, for a long time. We are finally holding the opposition accountable for their horribly flawed and dangerous bills.” said Ball. The NYSRPA is the state’s second largest and oldest firearms advocacy organization and the official NRA-affiliated State Association in New York. Yesterday, NY State Rifle and Pistol Association President Ton King and NRA President John Sigler awarded Greg Ball with the statewide honor of their “Legislator of the Year” at the Wallkill Rod and Gun Club Annual BBQ.
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ANNUAL SPORTSMAN’S COUNTRY BBQ
Set atop a gorgeous lush green hillside overlooking the bucolic Town of Patterson, this is a fun summer afternoon you just will not want to miss! With Sportsman and Hunting Groups throughout New York State sponsoring to support NY Rifle and Pistol Association, Legislator of the Year, Assemblyman Greg Ball! All the finger licking Country BBQ you can handle and some of the best Old Style Country Music in the area!! Good people and Great times!! Saturday, July 12th in Patterson NY at Northridge Farm at 683 Route 311.SPORTSMAN. 11AM -4PM…or whenever the cows come home.
Find out more: www.GballEvents.com
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200 Friends to Donate $100
Greg is in an uphill battle for re-election and he needs your support. Greg is personally calling hundreds to supporters hoping to get 200 close supporters to each donate $100. Please go online today and donate $100 or more at www.supportgreg.com !! For Greg to win he must get his message out…he needs your help. Every little bit helps. You can also send a donation to NY’ers on the Ball, PO Box 607, Pawling NY 12564
www.Ball4NY.com
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NEW CABLE SHOWS:
ON TOPIC WITH JOHN TESTA
Former Peekskill Mayor John Testa has started his cable show "On Topic with John Testa". It airs Thursdays 9:30PM on chanel 15 in Peekskill and Cortlandt. In Yorktown and Putnam Valley Tuesday's at 8:30 chanel 74
NEW CABLE TV SHOWS:
THE VOLPE REPORT
here is the upcoming schedule of guests and when the shows will air.
Volpe Report- hosted by Domenic Volpe
Public Accces Channel 15
Thursdays 8:00pm
John Sloan, Town Coucilman- Cortlandt
June 5, 12, and 19
NEW CABLE TV SHOW:
THE ISSUES WITH SAM DAVIS:
Tomorrow night on Channel 74 at 9PM, Sam's guests are Dr. Mike McKee and Mike Gibbons of Hudson River Valley Greenway. This program gave Putnam Valley grant money for its Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code rewrite, and does a lot of work on trails and open space. There are a lot of exciting things happening with Greenway. Tune in to find out what.
And next week, Leila Goldmark and James Simpson of Riverkeeper will be on.
Sam's shows are also broadcast on Channel 8 in the Peekskill Cablevision area on Mondays at 8PM. The show is broadcast on ComCast and it is available in the Mahopac Library.
Two must-see topics.
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THIS WEEKS "IN MY OPINION COLUMN" IN THE NCN:
Dear Readers:
This week I discuss Putnam Valley Supervisor Bob Tendy. You can read my column on this topic exclusively on line(see link below)or in this weeks NORTH COUNTY NEWS on sale now. I am worth the seventy-five cents. Look for my column IN MY OPINION(page 10) in the editorial section. Better yet as this column is exclusive to the North County News on a regular basis and will be covering the local political scene, take out a subscription. Click on the North County News link below and go to Subscribe. Between this blog and The North County News you will have all the information to make a vote based on substance.
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FYI:ATOM TAXI INC. AIRPORT SERVICE:
Dear Readers:
This gives me a chance to plug my business ATOM TAXI INC. As you are planning your holiday or business or vacation travel? Instead of the headache of trying to find Airport parking, we do Airport Service to The Westchester County Airport(and ALL other airports) 24/7. Just call 1(914)879-6121 and my partner Tommy, will be glad to take you in our Airport Taxi. You will also be provided with a free copy of your local paper of record The North County News. If this is a business trip we also provide a professional receipt, just tell Tommy at the time of booking. The cost of a one-way trip to LaGuardia Airport the cost is Ninety dollars plus tolls. The cost to JFK and Newark Airports is one hundred-twenty-five dollars plus tolls. The tolls are $10.00 Westchester County Airport and Stewart cost $75.00. 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 TOPIC W/ JOHN TESTA: www.ontopicwithjt.com
PLAN PUTNAM: planputnam@googlegroups.com/
PEEKSKILL GUARDIAN: "http://peekskillguardian.blogspot.com/
NORTH COUNTY NEWS:"http://northcountynews.com/
THE JOURNAL NEWS:http://thejournalnews.com/
PEEKSKILL DEMOCRATS:http://www.peekskilldems.com/"
PEEKSKILLREPUBLICANS:http://peekskillgop.com/
YORKTOWN SUPERVISOR DON PETERS: http://www.donpetersforyorktown.com/
PUTNAM VALLEY SUPERVISOR BOB TENDY:http://www.bobtendyforsupervisor.com/
THE PEEKSILL NEWS:http://thepeekskillnews.blogspot.com/
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CABLE SHOWS TO WATCH
ON POINT ON PEEKSKILL: Every Tuesday at 8PM channel 15 (Peekskill only)
Hosted by:DARREN RIGGER
DON PETERS AND YORKTOWN: Every Tuesday at 10PM channel 74
Hosted by: DON PETERS
YORKTOWN WATCHDOG: Every Friday at 9:30 PM on channel 74
Hosted By: ED CHIFFON
LEGISLATORS REPORT: Saturday and Sunday at various times on chanel 20
Hosted By: COUNCILMEN NICK BIANCO AND LOU CAMPISI
THE VOLPE REPORT: Thursadys at 8PM chanel 15 (Peek. and Cort.) 74 (York.)
Hosted By: Dominec Volpe
THE ISSUES: Thursdays at 9:PM chanel 74 Peekskill Mondays at 8PM chanel 8
Hosted by; Sam Davis
ON TOPIC WITH JOHN TESTA: Thursdays at 9:30PM chanel 15 (Peekskill & Cortlant)
Yorktown & Putnam Valley 8:30 chanel 74
Hosted by: John Testa
CARS & US: Fridays 10 PM chanel 15(Peek. & Cortlant) 74(York. & Put. Valley)
Hosted By: Dennis Tate
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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 06/15/08
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