Sunday, September 28, 2008

BASIC LIBERTIES UNDER ASSAULT WHILE YOUR BACK IS TURNED

Dear Readers:

While you are being captivated with this years presidential elections and the bail-out of wall street, closer to home you have your basic liberties under assault. I do not exaggerate, two items this week underscore my assertion. One, in Putnam Valley there is discussion lead by Supervisor Bob Tendy about streamlining the process of town approval for minor improvements on your property. Two, Recently Weschester County Legislator George Oros held a press conference in which he warned that the state legislature was going to re-institute the commuter tax after the election to make up N.Y.C. 's financial shortfall of revenues due to the down turn on Wall Street. At first I was not alone in thinking George was just grandstanding. However on Friday September 26 on page two of the Daily News there was an article which stated that State Assembly leader Sheldon Silver was now in favor of this onerous tax. This is now an issue before you, the voter, in this years assembly races in the 90 & 99 districts.

According to a story in the NCN "P.V. Board splits over planning change"(09/24/08),the issue in Putnam Valley is the definition of "minor" work. If the work is deemed minor, the property owner only has to get the town engineer's permission instead of going thru the planning board process. There are examples in the proposal of what constitutes minor. Yet it seems those who wish total government control of all your actions on your property say the term is vague. This is hogwash. With the examples sited in the proposal, the term is defined. The detractors say they are concerned about the environment and the citizens as a whole. I disagree, I believe there intentions are about control. The entire premise that one has to ask permission to do even minor alterations on one's property, harkens back to the days when in elementary school one had to ask permission to go to the bathroom. How dare anyone, private citizen or elected official think they should have total say on minor work on somebody else's property in which they have no financial stake. The right to own property is fundamental to the founding of this nation. Instead of streamlining this process, I would suggest an ordinance or law that defines the term "minor" and then say that the owner need no ones permission to proceed. Everybody else can mind their own business.

As for the commuter tax, this is a direct assault on the reason we had a revolution to begin with. Taxation without representation. To give N.Y.C. the power to tax the income of non-residence is beyond the pale. Those paying taxes would have no say on how those monies are spent. There would be no accountability of those N.Y.C. elected officials in regards to those monies. You already have a Mayor who admits to a 19 million dollar slush fund to finance his preferred groups. You have a city council chairwoman who admitted to a 17 million dollar slush fund for the same reasons. These were on top of monies already earmarked. Why the heck should we have to pay for political charities that benefit only New York City residents, they after all are not paying for ours. It is imperative that we all stand behind Legislator Oros and now 90 assembly district candidate William Gouldman in stopping this now.
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A MESSAGE FROM THE HARRISON APAR FIELD OF DREAMS FOUNDATION:

Columbus Day Golf Classic at Mohansic ... $135
A Community 'Fun Raiser' Priced Just Right!

Harrison Apar Golf Classic Bulletin
:: Sign Up Now at YACsports.com
:: Travelers Rest Is the Best!
:: Student Players Welcome!
:: Total Community Support
SIGN UP NOW!
Yorktown Athletic Club website (YACsports.com)
HarrisonApar@optonline.net
For more information ... (914) 275-6887


Since 2003, the Harrison Apar YAC PBA Fund -- founded jointly by Yorktown Athletic Club and Yorktown's Police Benevolent Association in tribute to a little person everyone still looks up to for his indomitable spirit and courage -- has raised and donated funds to help fields of dreams come true in our community by helping improve town and school recreational facilities and supporting our student athletes both on and off the field with scholarship awards and other forms of financial endowment.


.........Total Community Support
YAC, PBA, Town, School Officials Are All On Board to Move the Ball Fore-ward

........Travelers Rest Is the Best!
Attend Awards Reception + Dinner Only for $50
Less than 10 minutes from Mohansic is the destination restaurant for the area's most festive celebrations, hosted by Dave & Nancy Paganelli. The $135 fee includes golf and dinner, or you can attend the dinner only for $50. Music, memorabilia, prizes, and more surprises are in store.

.........Co-chairs for the Golf Classic include Yorktown Supervisor Don Peters (pictured), YAC President Gordon Fine, PBA officer Skip Mackay, Yorktown Schools Athletic Director Fio Nardone, Travelers Rest impresario Dave Paganelli, and prominent businessman Tony Scaglione of DiReggio Advertising & Doc James Cigars and Golf of Katonah.

.........Sponsors + Donors
Always Welcome!
Sponsor a Hole for 100 Bucks
Even our sponsorships are more affordable than usual. A donation of $100 or more, either in addition to a golfer registration or just as a non-playing donor, gets you a hole sign with your name on it. We priced the golf and the dinner as low as possible, and will rely on donations to make up the difference in our fundraising bottom line. We think that's fairer for everybody.

........Student Players Welcome!
The Family that Plays Together Helps the Community Together
We priced this community charity golf fundraiser at $135 -- and always have it on Columbus Day -- to include as many people as possible, including students. We'll even have a Longest Drive awardd for high school and student players.

........Join us Columbus Day, Monday, October 13 for a Community Charity Golf Event you'll never forget. In Harrison's own words, "Dreams do not come easily, but if you stretch enough, nothing is out of reach." Let's dream as big as Harrison did and help our kids enjoy the best recreational facilities we can provide. THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
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A MESSAGE FROM JOHN TESTA:
RE: LATEST CABLE T.V. SHOW:
YOU CAN STREAM ON YOUR COMPUTER AT: http://www.ontopicwithjt.com/

Latest Show:

Kieran Michael Lalor, Candidate for Congress

Kieran Lalor is a lifelong resident of the Hudson Valley and presently lives in Peekskill. He is a Marine Veteran who seved in Iraq and is running for US Congress in the 19 District. Learn about the man, his ideas, and his passion for the area he hopes to represent.
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A MESSAGE FROM YORKTOWN COUNCILMAN NICK BIANCO:
RE: SCHOOL TAX REBATE UPDATE

Update

Middle Class Star Rebate Checks

I have been getting calls that many communities are going to ascertain how many homeowners are getting checks that owe nothing on their school taxes. I did learn that the Town of Greenburgh has 1,700 basic star homeowners that pay no school taxes and receive checks in addition to many on the enhanced star.. It is difficult for me to put a dollar value on this because I do not know how much is claimed on their tax returns.(However the state knows) Simple math indicates that it has to be anywhere from $0.00 to 2 million dollars. Basic qualifies from 0 to $1200. $1200. X 1,700 = a little over 2 million dollars. So now we know about two communities. I am awaiting for other communities to contact me.

I have been in touch with one New York State official who assures me that he will look into it and was very concerned.

Another aspect of this are the homeowners who for some reason or not fails to pay their taxes on time and get a check. In Yorktown we have homeowners who owe for many years and are getting a check. As you know the towns in Westchester must make the school districts whole. Last year we had to pay 1.6 million dollars to the school districts due to tax delinquents. I am sure many of these delinquents received a check. It is apparent that this program while a great program may need to be looked at a little more closely and perhaps we can all save more money.

Councilman Nick Bianco
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A MESSAGE FROM CANDIDATE FOR STATE ASSEMBLY WILLIAM GOULDMAN:
RE: COMMUTER TAX

For Immediate Release: September 27, 2008
Contact: Carl Scaringe, 914-523-3672


BILL GOULDMAN Says No
To New York City Commuter Tax

Putnam Valley, New York: "In no way should the proposal to railroad a New York City Commuter Tax through the New York State Assembly be allowed to go through," said Bill Gouldman, the Republican and Conservative Candidate for State Assembly in the 90th District. Gouldman urged his opponent Assemblywoman Sandra Galef to pledge not to allow the commuter tax that was repealed in 1999. "At a time when it is increasingly harder to make ends meet, hard working commuters should not be forced to come up with an additional $500 per year in order to get to their jobs in New York City," Mr. Gouldman declared.

"Sheldon Silver, who along with Mrs. Galef is responsible for making Westchester the county with the highest property taxes in America, is trying to dig deeper into the pockets of the people living in the 90th Assembly District by returning to economic policies that have failed. Throughout this campaign, I have emphasized that we must help people get through these hard times and not add to their burden, " asserted Mr. Gouldman. "I have proposed tax credits for mass transit users and reducing the state sales tax on gasoline and asked Mrs. Galef to support these initiatives. I hope that this time she will join me in standing with the people and not fall into lock step with the wishes of Sheldon Silver and the special interests of New York City once again, "Mr. Gouldman concluded.
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A MESSAGE FROM THE PEEKSKILL GOP:

Foster and Council Majority Give Blind Faith and Carte Blanche to Developers
Who Threaten Downtown Mom-and-Pop Businesses

Council Passes Steep Slope Moratorium Then on Same Night Gives
Every Developer who Doesn't Like it a Variance

Foster Excludes Public Input and Common Sense from Her Closed Process

Local Businesses Complain that Democrats Protected Dain's But Not Them;
Foster slams them, "But You Didn't Contribute to Us; So Goodbye and Good Luck"


On Monday September 8th, Mayor Mary Foster and the Peekskill Democrats approved variances on two development projects the details of which have not yet been presented to Council members, City employees, or taxpayers. One is for a Walgreen's on the corner of Main and Broad Street, the other for an AutoZone along McGregor Brook, on the site of the old Lincoln-Mercury Dealership.

This is contrary to the long-accepted practice of the former Testa Administration of including public input at the front of the development process, as well as along every step of the way.

Council Democrats Vote Against Clean Water for Peekskill

In 2004, the City began the two year process of reviewing the environmental impact of developing abandoned industrial property on the Waterfront. Drew Claxton, and later Mary Foster, became outspoken opponents of the required State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) studies, saying that two years of study was insufficient time to determine the impact of development.

And yet, on September 8th, both Foster and Claxton accepted on blind faith a vague proposal to develop an AutoZone, with no SEQRA study, that will threaten McGregor Brook, and could have a devastatingly negative impact on Peekskill's water table.

Council Democrats Vote Against Local Businesses Who Won't Pay to Play

In 2006, when Target-Lowe's said they wanted to build stores on Louisa Street, the developer made two detailed presentations to the public during Council work sessions, and the public was allowed to comment on the proposal at yet another Council meeting. Mary Foster and Drew Claxton said this wasn't good enough, and requested that the property be put out to a formal RFP. In the name of open government and public input, the Testa Administration honored Foster and Claxton's request, despite the fact that it would delay Target-Lowe's for six months.

When no one came forward with an alternative plan, Foster and Claxton still opposed the deal solely to protect a major political contributor, N. Dain's Son's Co. Inc.

Many people argued at the time that Lowe's posed no direct threat to Dain's Lumber since Dain's customer base was largely contractors - Dain's isn't even open on the weekends - while Lowe's customer base was weekend warriors who shop most often when Dain's is closed.

Nevertheless, as soon as Foster was elected Mayor, she went out of her way to kill the Target-Lowe's deal that would bring nearly 1,000 jobs to Peekskill, and attract thousands of people who would patronize downtown businesses each week.

Foster Changes Position So She Can Hurt Mom-and-Pop Businesses

Eight months later, Foster did a remarkable about face, and totally abandoned her commitment to protect local small business owners against big national chains.

On September 22, 2008, two local pharmacists, whose businesses are directly threatened by Foster's fast-tracking of Walgreen's, came to the Council meeting and pleaded with Mayor Foster to reconsider her decision, and to apply the same logic she did when killing Target-Lowe's to protect Dain's Lumber.

Mom-and-Pop Stand Up to Foster, but She Pokes Them in the Eye

Harvey Seeley, of DeChristopher Pharmacy, came to the podium and explained why it wasn't a "sound business and community choice" to destroy small businesses who have been serving the elderly and infirm of Peekskill for decades. He also mentioned that he actively contributes to the Elks, the Rotary, the BID, the School District, and other local charities - something that Walgreen's is unlikely to do.

Mary Foster's actions said, "Dain's Lumber gave us $400. . What did you give the Democratic Party? Nothing. And now you expect us to protect you?" Foster then went on, in her signature patronizing tone, to tell Mr. Seeley that "chain stores don't compete with Mom-and-Pop businesses like yours" - the direct opposite of what she had said months ago, when citing the reason why she denounced Target-Lowe's as big box retailers who "travel in herds" and threaten local businesses like her patron N. Dain's Son's Co. Inc.

Mohammed Amin, the owner of Baxter's Pharmacy, followed Mr. Seeley at the podium, and called Mayor Foster on her blatant lie. Mr. Amin told Foster and the Council in substance that Walgreen's is a $32 billion national chain, with 6,941 locations in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam, which spent $355.9 million in advertising in 2007. Mr. Amin then instructed the Council that among Walgreen's tactics once they enter a small market like Peekskill, is that they hand out cash vouchers to the elderly and infirm, who are on fixed incomes and are threatened by ever-increasing taxes on every level of government. Walgreen's cynical goal, Mr. Amin stated, is to erode customer loyalty to local businesses, like DeChristopher's and Baxter's. Once Walgreen's has broken customer loyalty and succeeded in eliminating their Mom-and-Pop competitors, the elderly and infirm are forced to pay higher prices for pharmaceutical goods.

Foster blushed red at Mr. Amin's comments, and looked to Don Bennett to remind Mr. Amin that like Mr. Seeley, Mr. Amin hadn't contributed to the Democratic Party, but Dain's Lumber did, and that's why they opposed Target-Lowe's but support killing DeChristopher's and Baxter's Pharmacies. Bennett made a move to speak, but ultimately held his tongue.

The public at large is aghast at Foster's about-face.

Why did she approve the extension of the Steep Slopes Moratorium and then, on the very same night, vote to rubber-stamp waivers to every developer who didn't like the moratorium? Why did she advance projects that have not been presented to the Council? Why did she go to bat for developers who haven't even made applications to the City? Why has she excluded public input on these projects at the front of the development process? Why did she vote to create direct threats to long-standing family businesses in the Downtown, when she invoked the perceived interests of a campaign contributor to justifying killing Target-Lowe's?

And how will Council members answer for their complicity in violating every one of the promises they made to taxpayers when running for Council? Do they have a death wish? How can the Council look at our community with a straight face and not say that something is amiss?

"Foster's and the Council Majority's vote is inconsistent with every one of their campaign promises," said Peekskill Republican Chair Tim Warn. "Their hypocrisy is palpable. Foster told the public when running for Mayor that she had three decades of business experience and quote 'would never accept any deal on blind faith.' That's exactly what she's done here. It is just one more example of how Mary Foster only acts with blind faith in her narrow self-interest, and refuses to put Peekskill first."

Go Peekskill
Contact Tim Warn, (914) 737-3448
http://www.peekskillgop.com
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THIS WEEKS "IN MY OPINION COLUMN" IN THE NCN:

Dear Readers:

This week I discuss attempts to refrom coounty government. 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:

JOHN G. TESTA: www.johngtesta.com

ON TOPIC W/ JOHN TESTA: www.ontopicwithjt.com

THE WINERY AT ST. GEORGE: http://www.TheWineryAtStGeorge.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: Various day and times on chanel 20(Ykt.only)
Hosted by: SUPERVISOR 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.) chanel 74 at 6pm (York.)
Hosted By: Dominec Volpe

THE ISSUES: Thursdays at 9:PM chanel 74 Peekskill Mondays at 8PM chanel 15
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

09/26/08

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