Dear Readers:
Believe it or not, this is my 200th column writing opinion for the NCN. I would like to share some things I have learned. It hasn't been easy running a business, and opining in 3 different forums (Bazzomanifesto, In My Opinion, Bazzo at Work) week after week, through sickness, and death in the family and not miss a beat? It takes a commitment. I remember after only a few moths on the job, and Katheen Malfetone was just hired as the new managing editor, she thought this column should run bi-weekly. She was not sure I could find something to opine about on a weekly basis. We can laugh about that now.
As a general rule, politicians have all the traits of a dog except loyalty. A very few in spite of all the glad handing would risk losing an election to publicly stand by a friend or principal if deemed radioactive. As we have seen in the recent controversy over public sector union benefits, they will throw the tax payer under the bus every time.
A big issue in last years state legislature elections was former N.Y.C. Mayor Koch's "hero of reform" movement where all the Republican candidates signed an agreement to propose an independent commission to form the new election districts to comply with the 2010 census results. The Republicans ran on this. Now that the have re-taken control of the State Senate, they have done a 180 and now oppose this. They knew this would not fly. New York is predominantly Democrat and any commission independent or not, would re-district Republicans out of power. What makes the Republicans phonies is they new this and signed the petition any way. They thought you were too stupid to understand that Koch is not a nice old man but a liberal Democrat through and through.
On the other side, when the Democrats controlled all levers of government on the federal and state level, they rammed through legislation, using shady back room deals, without any desire of bi-partisanship. Heck, they did not even allow the Republicans in the room. Now since November and Republicans have taken back some power, they scream of the need for bi-partisanship. As we have seen in Wisconsin, instead of adhering to the will of the voters, the Democrats like cowards fled the state. The Republicans like adults when out of power, took their medicine. The Democrats, taking their marching orders for the unions took the ball and went away. So it is easy to understand why the casual observer of the political scene would easily confuse politics with the world oldest profession.
Those were some of the negatives. Here are some of the positives. When I first started writing, I heard all the same things you have regarding Yorktown Highway Superintendent Eric DiBartolo. So I was skeptical of him when the Yorktown Town Board gave him the title of Head of Labor Relations to do an end run around civil service rules. Eric proved his detractors (and me) wrong by successfully consolidating services and saving the town money.
I initially found him a person of thin skin but fiercely loyal and a person who can at times play favorites, on who he will talk to a places he would go.
Since then he has developed a thicker skin. As for the other two things, I find them admirable. Loyalty is a rare quality in politics. As for playing favorites, who doesn't? We don't elect gods, we elect human beings. I do not fault being human. Heck I play favorites and in full discloser I always admit them. In the end Eric and his crew do what they are suppose to do better than most and Yorktown is lucky to have him and them.
Even though more often than not, we disagree politically, I have found Westchester Legislator Mike Kaplowitz one of the most honest people I know. When people say to me all politicians are the same, you can't trust them; I proudly point to Mike and say not true! Politics needs people like Mike.
It also needs people like Yorktown Councilman Terrence Murphy and State Assemblyman Steve Katz who entered the political arena for the right reasons. Neither needed the job, but was willing to take the slings and arrows of an election to make a difference for others in the same predicament.
Thanks to Bruce, Kathleen, Mary, Domenic, Dave, Nick, Eric, Mike, Darren, John, mostly Tommy for giving me strength when I feel down to keep my commitment to keeping informed you dear readers who have made this column and blog part of the political arena. This is my opinion, you may beg to differ.
Anthony J. Bazzo
You can read more politics on Bazzo at Work or going to http:ltpbazzo.wordpress.com.
************************************************************************************
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 $100.00 plus tolls. The cost to JFK and Newark Airports is one hundred-thirty-five dollars plus tolls. The tolls are $13.00 Westchester County Airport and Stewart cost $75.00. We do not take credit cards, sorry.
************************************************************************************
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
AT NCN: abazzo@ncnlocal.com
***********************************************************************************
SITES TO LINK TO:
ellabellahairclippies: www.ellabellahairclippies.com
http://ellabellahairclippies.blogspot.com
ROB ASTORINO: www.robastorino.com
JOHN G. TESTA: www.johngtesta.com
ON TOPIC W/ JOHN TESTA: www.ontopicwithjt.com
CARS & US: www.doverracing.com
THE WINERY AT ST. GEORGE: http://www.TheWineryAtStGeorge.com
PLAN PUTNAM: planputnam@googlegroups.com/
BRUCE APAR'S NCN BLOG: http://theblogcabin.com/homebase/bapar
NORTH COUNTY NEWS:"http://northcountynews.com/
THE JOURNAL NEWS:http://thejournalnews.com/
PEEKSKILL DAILY: peekskilldaily.com
YORKTOWN WATCHDOG: www.yorktownopengov.org
PADAVANO FINE ARTS: Padovanofineart.com
ASSEMBLYMAN GREG BALL: http://www.ball4ny.com/
PEEKSKILL BID: www.peekskillbid.com or
www.downtownpeekskill.com
***********************************************************************************
CABLE SHOWS TO WATCH:
YORKTOWN WATCHDOG: Every Friday at 9:30 PM & Wednesday at 4:30PM on channel 74
Hosted By: ED CIFFON (Yorktown and Putnam Valley only)
CARS & US: Fridays 10 PM chanel 15(Peek. & Cortlant) 74(York. & Put. Valley)
Hosted By: Dennis Tate
SPEAK OUT WITH SANDY GALEF: Yorktown chanel 74 Wednesdays at 7:30PM..Ossining/Peekskill chanel 15 Wednesdays at 8PM
Hosted by: Sandra Galef
DEAR SANDY: Yorktown chanel 74 Fridays 7:30PM...Ossining/Peeksill chanel 15 Fridays
9PM
Hosted by: Sandra Galef
**********************************************************************************
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
03/10/11
No comments:
Post a Comment