Politics In Westchester

David & Goliath: Astorino Fights Back

2012-01-15T10:12:00.001-05:00

If you follow the local lamestream media, and for that matter a select few of the “big guys”, you've seen the anti-Astorino barrage of opininorials and pro-HUD, pro-affordable housing and pro-big government intrusion into our lives regarding any and all affordable housing. Specifically, with the ill-settled federal housing settlement the County agreed to before County Executive Andrew Spano left office.

The misnomer of “affordable” housing is just that. It’s a ploy that was developed by those in the not-for-profit housing game to garner support for their well paid businesses and employees under the guise of a struggling “little guy”. The reality is that it is nothing so noble and just subsidized housing, formerly called welfare housing. Examples of a few of these known companies might be Westhab and Habitat For Humanity (although HFH has a bit of a different angle). What they do is mask their real purpose: developers hiding behind the not-for-profit moniker to pretend to be a caring and helping organization. The reality is they are developers who have found a loophole that would put the brakes on anybody else’s projects and exploited it for their own benefit. Notice I didn’t say exploited for their own profit? That’s the only difference. They will make sure their books show a break-even point and not a profit – all while paying their management and employees very nice salaries. Not for profit indeed!

The federal housing monitor tried to flex his federal muscles to intimidate Westchester into complying with mandates that simply weren’t part of the agreement former County Executive Andrew Spano caved in to. When I ran for County Legislator, I publicly stated I was against this agreement for several reasons, as did others. If you reviewed the 37 pages settlement agreement when it was proposed, the vagueness of the document should have precluded any agreement. We should have gone to court to fight it. However, for those who profess in a belief system that the law is the law and appointments to the bench have no consequence, again because the law is the law, watch out! Electing liberal judges also means no matter how solid your case, if the cause is one of the social agendas of that particular judge you are before, you’ll lose. Could this have been why the County Legislature, cohabiting in lock step with Spano, conceded to his agreement? Probably.

Astorino, has repeatedly stood up to and stared down the mighty federal mediator each time the Goliath tried to force a new change into the settlement equation. I have never agreed that Westchester is racist, biased or discriminatory. That said, I do agree that you can certainly find bigots, mental-midgets, and frankly a few idiots that exhibit parochial and racist thinking when it comes to anyone that is different than themselves. They are not representative of the majority of Westchester residents. In fact, I think the people of Westchester are more tolerant than people I’ve met in other parts of our country.

The feds claim that the County isn’t doing enough to change the law in Westchester regarding proof of income for HUD and/or Section 8 housing. It’s not necessary. The settlement has a provision in it stating the same thing. So if they agreed to it as part of the settlement, they’re just insisting on legal duplicity. Creating and passing a law for this would remove the landlords ability to refuse anyone a rental. Without knowing the proof of income of either, if a Section 8 housing recipient and a Non-Section 8 person applies for an apartment, and if the landlord offers the apartment to the Non-Section 8 person, they can be sued by the Section 8 recipient for proof of income discrimination. If they give it to the Section 8 recipient, he can be sued by the Non-Section 8 person for discrimination, although they can’t easily prove discrimination. It creates a lopsided equation for the small landlords that they simply can’t win.

How should we proceed? I believe CE Astorino is on the right track. By standing up to the federal administrator of this lousy HUD agreement on principle and continuing to meet or exceed the timelines in place, he has set the stage for compliance. By doing so he keeps the feds at bay. How much longer he can do this also depends on the various communities who must participate in this debacle. Good luck Rob!

Let’s See How Much Better We Can Do!

2011-12-25T10:52:00.008-05:00

For the second year in a row, the Westchester County Legislature submitted their version of the County’s budget to County Executive (CE) Astorino. After three heavily attended rounds of public hearings around the county, the representative public clamored “no!” when it came to CE Astorino’s proposed cuts. And with the County Legislature’s 12 Democrats and 5 Republicans on the board, the vote appeared it would once again be a partisan split, as it was during last year’s budget vote. The balance of the Legislature will change on January 1st, when two more Republicans get sworn in. Still, Legislator Jim Maisano’s public wish to not be the minority leader still seems elusive for him.

CE Astorino rejected $10 million in spending after the county board approved a $1.69 billion budget. This included $1.9 million for neighborhood health centers, $990,000 for Cornell Cooperative Extension, $378,000 for Invest-in-Kids programs, $4.3 million in day-care subsidies, $100,000 for ethnic festivals and restoration of the Route 76 bus line between Rye and White Plains. No doubt we could use scrutiny with some of these dollars. I continue to find it interesting that CE Astorino would cut one bus route while touting another bus route with the Tappan Zee Bridge proposal that I’m convinced comes as an Obama reelection/Cuomo presidential campaign ploy. If we can’t afford a small bus route between Rye and White Plains, how will we be able to afford a much larger one from Rockland to Westchester? The same can be said about last year’s proposed cutting and then saved Bee Line Express Bus Route to NYC.

Republicans and Democrats agreed on a few areas, in particular, money for Cornell Cooperative Extension; $49,000 for Greenburgh Nature Center; $59,790 for business training; $42,500 for the Jewish Council and four positions with the Board of Elections.

I agree with CE Astorino’ goal of reductions to the budget. There seems to be an awful lot of excess in certain places. However, it seems like both years he’s gone after the same cuts for the same reasons. And the legislature restores the same cuts he proposes. Is this what our government representatives see as good government? It appears to be their preordained deadlock. I and others are amazed at comments like the one County Legislature Leader Ken Jenkins made when he said, “The budget is done. The problem is not with the legislature. The majority of things we do, we do unanimously.” With about 15,000 budget items, Jenkins said most were supported by both the board and executive branch and that they disagreed on only 27 items, with 40 overrides, including some not directly tied to the budget. Of the 27 budget vetoes, 19 were overridden along party lines. Was it just something they did because they could or are these items of real value to the county? We can’t really know the accuracy of what each side says because each side blames the other, abandoning the public at the sidelines. This type of partisanship has to stop.

There are four legislators not returning this January either because they are simply stepping down or lost in the last election. These are all democratic Legislators, Jose Alvarado, John Nonna, Bill Burton and Marty Rogowsky. I have had dealings with the last three and know them to be concerned, involved and responsive public servants. But they too, have played the partisanship game that I believe the public is so weary of. The last election will increase the Republicans numbers but not enough to put this ship back on an even keel. We need to have better balance, new and different ideas, with better ways of operating our County government. The old ways are failing us. We must have relief from the state induced mandates if Westchester and New York wish to return to any competitive markets again, yet we see no action from them.

Astorino said he expected many of the overrides to his vetoes but it was important to “take principled stands on items” that he thought were detrimental to taxpayers and effective government. Imagine what might happen if the two sides sat down and tried to work together, forging solutions to the budget before it was due? Imagine if, instead of campaigning for their “sides”, they brokered a balanced, effective and realistic solutions that didn’t provide broad-brush sweeping cuts that pit one neighbor against another? Imagine if, instead of playing the partisan games of one-upmanship sound bites in the media, all the representatives actually represented us and created a budget that held or reduced the dollars taken from the County’s beleaguered and abused tax payers? Imagine how much better off everyone might be?

CE Astorino may be on the right track. He wanted to have a one percent tax reduction last year when he proposed his first budget. The County Legislature trumped him and offered a two percent reduction and kept all the positions he sought to eliminate. This year was almost an exact duplication of his efforts with the similar actions taken by his presumed “adversaries”. Imagine if he and his people had worked closely with the legislature before the budget was introduced? That would have caused everyone to take notice of a sharply honed representative government in action! If the CE can only offer cuts of one nature, and the legislature can only offer to override them, how much longer before the public says enough? The CE and the Board of Legislators may respectively have some good ideas. But until we see true collaboration, an honest joining of forces, we are destined for a repeat of the same antics every year. The public is frustrated with these games. I look forward to this new year with local politicians acting and working differently. Let’s see how much better we can do.

MTA On-Time Performance: It’s A Scam!

2011-12-19T17:06:00.001-05:00

Based on “arrivals with 5 minutes, 59 seconds of schedule”, the MTA boasts quarterly of the on-time record for train arrivals. Isn’t 5 minutes, 59 seconds really just six minutes? Of course it is. And, of course this is MTA doublespeak as they try to mask their poor performance. I take the Harlem line into NYC from the White Plains station. I typically take the 8:01AM and arrive at Grand Central Station at about 8:45AM. It should be changed to the 8-ish train. On a good day, the train is on time. On a normal day, whether on time or not, there’s no seats available and most people boarding the train will stand for their ride into NYC. A bad day can be when the train is running fifteen minutes late (or more) or worse, the train is cancelled. No train? No late charge.

This latest iteration of the On-Time Performance chart, buried in the Holiday release of things to do in NYC via MetroNorth, indicated that on-time performance of the Harlem and New Haven lines was down, with the New Haven line edging slightly beyond the Harlem line with the worst on-time performance. Does it matter that hundreds of people are late for work? Does it matter that there are never any seats available for all? Does it matter that many must stand on the wind-swept platform in inclement weather because there isn’t enough room inside the station? Does it matter that once one train is late, many behind it are subsequently late? Does it matter that the MTA slapped a tax on small businesses and individuals to pay for their bloated budget? Does it matter that the MTA routinely raises it’s monthly ticket prices regardless of these issues. Resoundingly, NO, only to those affected riders!

Each year I attend the MTA Board meetings and discuss the above mentioned issues I have with the running of the trains. The meetings had been run by the now-former CEO of the MTA, Jay H. Walder, who has departed his post as of this past October. No great loss to commuters. At these meetings, I usually touch on the fact that I subsidize their poorly run entity as I only take the train three days a week but purchase a monthly ticket. They get to use my money for 7 days, even though I’m not using the train anywhere near that amount. In effect, I’m giving them 4 days of subsidy money with no return of service. And since it’s not enough, they decided to tax us through a payroll tax! I also touch on how we all got indoctrinated into hearing how their delays were due to equipment problems during the colder seasons. Then they started using the same excuse for the warmer seasons. So apparently the trains and related equipment can only run in perfect weather. Yes, of course I’m being sarcastic. The problem is a common one: failed management and a failing infrastructure. Fix the equipment!

Now we are waiting to see who Governor Cuomo will appoint to the CEO position. Do you think accountability should be a mainstay of keeping this position? I do. I also think “tricked-out” numbers to make the story smell better is disingenuous and should be stopped. I also think they should be giving out credits for every late train or cancelled train to those waiting at the station. I realize most of their expenses may be personnel, their pensions and all the other things we all hear about on the news. How about fixing the infrastructure? How about getting everything working well before trying to add trains to the Tappan Zee Bridge and I-287 fiasco? There's much more to do, but everyone seems content to just wave a magic wand and hope for the best. We can do better.

Trucks Keep Hitting Bridges

2011-12-15T13:56:00.001-05:00

Every so often we hear or read about a truck trying to go under a bridge and hitting it and/or getting jammed under it. If hitting a bridge isn’t bad enough, the ensuing traffic jams danger to the public and fiascos make the situation untenable. The local newspapers write about it, occasionally it’ll appear on TV and radio and the pictures from cell phones wind up appearing on You Tube in short order. I understand that accidents happen. I also understand what it’s like to rely on a GPS instruction - the common reason for the mishap. I do draw the line with GPS units at disobeying one way street signs, going onto railroad tracks and so on.

The answer seems to be elusive to all those experts whom we repeatedly see quoted in articles about the accident. How is this if they are the experts? Perhaps they’re just book smart and lack any common sense intelligence. Maybe they should let us come up with ideas for solving this. And if they adopt our solutions, they return a percentage of their salary for inefficiency.

Last year, 33 trucks drove into bridges on Westchester parkways patrolled by county police; in 2009 it was 54. In 2008 it was 46. There have been 39 he bridge crashes so far this year, 30 of them on the Hutchinson River Parkway, sometimes tying up traffic for hours as cops from several agencies scramble to the scene. A bridge inspector and often a tow truck are called out, costing truckers sometimes more than $100,000 when repairs and lost cargo are added in, officials say. The boxes on tractor-trailer rigs can stand more than 13 feet high, while some of the bridges have clearances barely above 9 feet. This is an issue for emergency vehicles as well. But most of their operators are familiar with the bridges in their communities and have alternate routes they utilize when responding.

Sgt. Ira Promisel, of the New York State Police, one of the good guys, says a task force has been studying the problem for two years and trying out ideas. There’s an obvious waste of time - why fix it when we can talk about it? The task force is comprised of DOT, state police, and Westchester County officials, among others. They’ve tried reflective stickers on bridges in the Bronx, which didn’t work. Stickers. Really? The task force is about to try a device called “The Wizard” near the King Street Bridge. It constantly sends out a message to CB channels that bridges on the Hutch are too low for trucks. Not every solution needs to be a high tech one.

Here’s a simple solution, build an opening on the entrances that a truck might have access to to match the lowest bridge on the roadway. That way, as they try to enter the roadway, they hit the representative structure, set with a notification system to the appropriate police response agency, stop, and get to remove their vehicle without screwing up traffic on the highway/parkways. Most importantly, they haven’t hit and wedged themselves under the bridge, damaged the bridge, other vehicles or hurt anyone. Simple. If you want to argue the cost, we’ve already spent $3.3 million dollars dealing with last years accidents and there’s no reduction in sight.

Being a leader means stepping out of your comfort zone - or, in this case, off the curb. Propose some common-sense solutions to a reoccurring problem and make a difference in a positive way. The truck drivers, insurance companies, responders, motoring public will all appreciate what you do: providing real solutions to real problems.

Tappan Zee Politics As Usual

2011-12-12T17:40:00.000-05:00

Many have repeatedly called for a new Tappan Zee Bridge to be built, replacing the existing one. Proponents use the Chicken Little mantra of, “The bridge is falling, the bridge is falling!” And while the bridge certainly needs repairs and maintenance, it getting replaced anytime soon is probably a fantasy on their part. I agree that something needs to be done but am not convinced based on the latest public information session in Tarrytown that we are getting the best solutions.

President Obama made it easier for our cash strapped state by saying the feds would ease federal regulations to expedite the building of the bridge. That’s all well and good if he were paying for it. But guess what? We’re going to pay for it. And pay handsomely I might add. Now that Governor/Presidential candidate Cuomo has entered the fray, saying there will be no mass transit component, it seems that we will be lucky to simply replace what’s already there. I can almost live with that.

While I don’t have that much of an issue trying to incorporate a mass transit element into the project, the lack of coordination with the communities, state and federal governments is disturbing. I’ve always maintained that at the least we should repair the bridge. Given the clamor for mass transit, I feel we’re being shortchanged with the bus system solution. Having a bus system that goes from Suffern to Port Chester may be nice to have but no one has presented a comprehensive plan as to why we need that. Oh sure, the proponents say it will relieve traffic. Prove it - I'm not convinced. Everything they say is based on a supposed increase in traffic. But that also ties in with an increase in residences. What if we stopped developing every bit of green and open space we have? If we don’t build more homes and preserve our green space, maybe our traffic woes won’t be as bad the doomsayers are predicting.

They say more people will take advantage of the mass transit option, keeping cars off the road. If most of those people can still afford to pay the taxes to live here, they’ll have to take the bus because they won’t be able to afford to own a car. With the President’s lack of an energy policy for America seemingly to be “pay more at the pumps”, many won’t be able to afford a car (or two) or afford the gas. What makes you think you’ll be able to afford the toll on the Tappan Zee Bridge? Almost all mass transit/public transportation is a money loser. It’s why the Metropolitan Transportation Agency (MTA) raises its fairs every year. In Rob Astorino’s first budget, he cut the Express Bus service to NYC. If we can’t sustain a known bus route system that is working, is this the model we want to follow? I don’t think so.

The bus system will have a bus running every five minutes. That’s an incredible number of buses. What happens when the powers that be realize that no one is riding the 12:30 AM bus with regularity? They’ll probably have to cancel it because they cannot afford to run an empty bus. It’s exactly the reason the Express Bus to NYC works. There are more during rush hour and fewer during the other times. Every five minutes may be unrealistic even though it sounds necessary. But regardless how many are running, they are cumbersome to turn, slow in traffic (even slowing it), additional pollutants and finally, adding to the already existing heavy traffic which we all suffer from.

The bus pick-up and drop-off points have been mapped out along Rt 119. But parking spaces for your car so you can take the buses do not exist. In Tarrytown and Elmsford, they will be using eminent domain to acquire the property they desire for the bus route lanes. Is this what most people want? I haven’t heard from anyone who liked that idea once they were told about it. The idea of a monorail system, while more environmentally viable would allow cars smaller than train cars & more customizable to ridership. Regardless it doesn’t provide an answer to the question, will it be profitable? ABG doesn’t believe any solution will break-even, let alone be profitable based on the past performance of mass transit.

But until funding for any of this can be offered and the public buys into it, lets draw up plans that will allow a bridge that can handle some growth in the future for automotive traffic and even a public transportation option. The proponents of existing plans haven’ received some resistance or opposition. The dog and pony shows the Tappan Zee Bridge group puts forth is never held at a convenient time for more public participation. Until they change their way of operating, we’ll never have the best ideas or the best plan for the future.

’Tis The Season

2011-12-03T21:42:00.003-05:00

The road to Albany is paved with constant tax payer advertising. The art of the press release continues to get refined by the incumbent legislators and the rookie legislators, while not necessarily left in the dust, pale by comparison. There are many local weekly newspapers that exist through advertising as their revenue mainstay as they are otherwise free to the reader. The only daily newspaper in the area is looking for a new office while they’ve jettisoned staff, assets and finally their building. The staff that is left must take one week off before the end of the year with no pay just to hold onto their jobs. It’s ironic how they have always (and continue) to endorse the liberal agenda, report on how great the President is doing for our country and that there’s no recession. They are finally able to experience first hand the affects of their endorsements. Touché.

In the areas best opinion weekly, the Westchester Guardian, they printed the obligatory press release, this time from George Latimer, entitled “On The Road: The I-287 Project”. Their editor places value in these press releases, having previously told me that these are how they inform the constituents of the progress they are making on their behalf in Albany. That remains to be seen. It sometimes seems like self-flatuance to me. I will say from the onset, I like George Latimer. I’ve met with him numerous times and he seems to be a straight-shooter. But, since I don’t reside in his district, he and I each have nothing to lose by being open and honest.

In this release, he states, “The project has long been burdened by inadequate planning, unqualified design teams, lack of oversight, and a ‘rigid regional’ funding system that made financing even more difficult when compounded with the current economic climate. This project was approved during a different economy and there was wiggle room in the state budget. Now, we unfortunately don’t have the same luxuries and that has cost the taxpayers greatly while 287 has been under construction.”*

My issue with this press release is that it purports the information from Latimer is accurate when it needs to be challenged. Had this been a real journalistic interview by an unbiased reporter, they might have challenged him on the first sentence. He has been a legislator in Albany for a good many years. To say this project, which was brought to light in an exposé article by the Journal News, has long been burdened by inadequate planning, unqualified design, lack of oversight, etc., smacks of hypocrisy on his part. We elect legislators to go to Albany to represent us. I can’t think of anyone who wants to get ripped off on any project. I'm sure he’s driven on I-287 and wondered as we all do when will it ever be completed? The difference is as a legislator he can easily find out. But he did nothing. He also, along with many other flabbergasted colleagues, never lifted a finger to help the constituencies along the I-287 corridor.

The release continues, “Governor Andrew Cuomo recently implemented a new series of drastic reforms that will bring the cost of the I-287 project under control and move up the often changed end date. The Governor’s changes will significantly alter the way the Department of Transportation does business, making the Department more efficient on projects throughout New York. Once again, he has shown strong leadership in advancing necessary change in the way state government functions.” While I’m sure this flattery will curry favor for Latimer with the governor, this is exactly what I’d have hope for from my assemblyman, not the governor. This press release should have come from the Governor’s office.

He continues on, “These reforms came as a result of the investigation by Peter Lehrer at the request of the Governor’s Office and will directly address the significant issues that have slowed down the I-287 project and many others across the state. Peter Lehrer is a renowned construction industry expert and also a Mamaroneck resident who most likely has been frustrated by the I-287 project himself.” Nice try George. This may be the case for the state, but if it hadn’t been for the Journal News digging into this story, the state would have blissfully lumbered along without as much as a whimper of a challenge to the practices by those reaping the financial benefits. After the hundreds of millions of dollars wasted, it’s a little too little too late. Where’s the wiggle-room now?

Term limits comes up by many every time elections are near - for good reason. Press releases can be a good informational tool if it’s not abused and wasted. Unfortunately, this one is exactly that. It is a publicity/campaign tool that has outlived its usefulness in its current form. I also just received the Tom Abinanti pre-Christmas mailer, stating all that he has been involved in while in Albany since he beat me in the last election. He claims to be green but then mails this oversized cardboard campaign piece. Here’s a guy who knows how to campaign on the taxpayers dime. Nita Lowey has sent hers as well. The waste, I’m sure justified as informative, does nothing but pollute. I’m sure there isn’t much we can do to stop a lot of junk mail coming every holiday. After all ’tis the season.

Read George Latimer’s entire press release at:

http://yonkerstribune.typepad.com/files/click-to-read-the-westchester-guardian---december-1-2011-edition-2.pdf

'Company Policy: We are not hiring until Obama is gone'

2011-11-24T10:30:00.001-05:00

This story has gone viral and when I saw it, I followed the links to the original story and watched the video that businessman Bill Looman had made. It’s always interesting when someone takes a stand for their principles. I was impressed and thought to reprint this here.

Sign posted in Bill Looman’s truck window.

WACO, Ga. -- A west Georgia business owner is stirring up controversy with signs he posted on his company's trucks, for all to see as the trucks roll up and down roads, highways and interstates:

"New Company Policy: We are not hiring until Obama is gone."

"Can't afford it," explained the employer, Bill Looman, Tuesday evening. "I've got people that I want to hire now, but I just can't afford it. And I don't foresee that I'll be able to afford it unless some things change in D.C."

Looman's company is U.S. Cranes, LLC. He said he put up the signs, and first posted pictures of the signs on his personalFacebook page, six months ago, and he said he received mostly positive reaction from people, "about 20-to-one positive."

But for some reason, one of the photos went viral on the Internet on Monday.

And the reaction has been so intense, pro and con, he's had to have his phones disconnected because of the non-stop calls, and he's had to temporarily shut down his company's website because of all the traffic crashing the system.

Looman made it clear, talking with 11Alive's Jon Shirek, that he is not refusing to hire to make some political point; it's that he doesn't believe he can hire anyone, because of the economy. And he blames the Obama administration.

"The way the economy's running, and the way my business has been hampered by the economy, and the policies of the people in power, I felt that it was necessary to voice my opinion, and predict that I wouldn't be able to do any hiring," he said.

Looman did receive some unexpected attention not long after he put up his signs and Facebook photos. He said someone, and he thinks he knows who it was, reported him to the FBI as a threat to national security. He said the accusation filtered its way through the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and finally the Secret Service. Agents interviewed him.

"The Secret Service left here, they were in a good mood and laughing," Looman said. "I got the feeling they thought it was kind of ridiculous, and a waste of their time."

So Bill Looman is keeping the signs up, and the photos up -- stirring up a lot of debate.

"I just spent 10 years in the Marine Corps protecting the rights of people... the First Amendment, and the Second Amendment and the [rest of the] Bill of Rights," he said. "Lord knows they're calling me at 2 in the morning, all night long, and voicing their opinion. And I respect their right to do that. I'm getting a reaction, a lot of it's negative, now. But a lot of people are waking up."

A New Westchester

2011-11-23T10:00:00.007-05:00

I found myself disagreeing with some of County Executive Astorino’s last budget, and specifically what he was trying to do with the Department of Emergency Services (DES) and the Department of Public Safety, formerly known as the County Police, and publicly spoke against it. I did, however, try to reach out to people around the County Executive for either a sit-down or at least a phone conference regarding where he was making a mistake, why and how I believed it could be corrected. But, those players never got back to me and I can only assume that they didn’t approach the County Executive on my behalf. Better to say nothing than to stick your neck out. Subsequently, I am being shunned by the Westchester Republican party. Ah, politics in Westchester.

As a former County Legislative candidate for the 8th District, I, along with others, had asked Astorino and others to have the Republican candidates run as a Team, showing the voters that there is a group of qualified, capable and willing Team of Republicans who will attack the spending and taxing problem in Westchester County. I was told that it wouldn’t be practical. Ironically, after Rob won, he couldn’t get much accomplished because the Democrats held the supermajority in the legislature. Maybe I was correct.

This election holds a bit of hope for the Republicans and in particular the County Executive. I'm not sure if he’ll get much completed as the Democrats are still in the majority, although there seems to be more of a chance now that several Republicans have appeared to win their legislative races. I want to see more of a balance in the legislature. More balance will bring a wider variety of ideas, solutions, compromise and level-headed decisions. I’m concerned however because many candidates promised to vote with CE Astorino if elected. We need independent thinkers, as opposed to independence candidates, who will vote the conscience of their constituency, not the partisan line, whether republican, democrat or something else. I believe that is what the voters are hoping for - not blind allegiance to the party.

CE Astorino has proposed this years budget. It appears he is proposing many of the same layoffs he had the last time he proposed the budget. Some of the cuts make more sense than others from this years budget are Departmental cuts: County parks: Down $3 million to $48 million; DSS: Down $16 million to $562 million ($14.5 million reflects a cut in federal stimulus money); Public Safety: Down $1.2 million to $36.4 million; Health: Down $5 million to $160 million. But if DSS is losing grant monies, they are only cutting the county portion by $1.5 million - a proverbial drop in the budget’s bucket.

Other cuts are: $1.9 million to three neighborhood health agencies; $990,000 to Cornell Cooperative Extension; $750,000 to ArtsWestchester; $100,000 to ethnic festivals; $40,000 to "Nutcracker" performance; $30,000 for nighttime movies; $16,000 for Lasdon Park concerts; $10,000 for Battle of the Bands; $7,000 for open gym. These are thousands, not millions and are nice to have but simply a waste. These cuts are symbolic and don't really add up to much.

Specific to the issues of cuts, he has 210 layoffs scheduled for this year. The big question is, “Do we need these people or can we do without them?” If we could live without them, why did we have them in the first place? It was about the same number last year. In fact, the breakdown of layoffs by departments is as follows:

A breakdown of layoffs by department: Human Resources: 1; Budget: 1; Board of Elections: 19; Finance: 1; Information Technology: 7; Law: 2; Planning: 4; Emergency Services: 8; Social Services: 71.

If government should be protecting it’s people, should we be cutting the social services and emergency services as much as we are? Should we be trying to educate the recipients of social services benefits to eventually be self-sufficient? Of course we should. Should we be consolidating two very different departments just because they fall under the moniker of emergency responders? Of course not! As a solution to our over-taxation in Westchester, it’s time for our elected officials to start thinking differently, acting differently and accomplishing more for us.

Most politicos realize it’s easier to just raise taxes, ignore the waste, deception, and phony largess, maybe the politicians should overall what we do run and give away. Reduce duplication where applicable (my only complaint with last years budget), reduce waste and streamline many of the processes that become self-serving and simply, expensive. Let’s hope the County Executive makes some progress this time around and maybe we can have a new Westchester!

November Elections - Who’s Line Is It Anyway?

2011-10-30T11:50:00.001-04:00

In less than two weeks, the November elections will soon be upon us. Deflection from real issues is ramping up, although in the Town of Greenburgh, Supervisor Paul Feiner is leading the race. Everywhere you turn, some challenger is wielding accusations toward the incumbent. And, likewise, somewhere an incumbent is trying to defend their record, claiming their experience is what will guide us through these difficult times.

In Saturday’s Journal News, the wrestling of who’s campaign literature is right between incumbent John Nonna and challenger Michael Smith, shows the despondency as well as ludicrous barbs from two people who want to represent us. They aren’t in our district so none of the ABG staff will be voting for them anyway. I like Michael Smith but I think John Nonna has done some good, as well as not-so-good things, as the incumbent. Whom should we believe? Once the defecation starts to hit the ventilation, it’s hard to know.

In Yonkers, the city where nothing is on the level - they continue to make Tammany Hall look like a Friars Roast with the accusations. John Murtagh is hammering Mike “Republican-turn(coat)ed-Democrat” Spano, who took a two year sabbatical from politics to work for the real capo, Nick Spano, as a lobbyist in Albany. “Lay low for a bit, Mikey.” He’s being pushed by Murtagh to explain his role in the bribery scandal involving Attorney Anthony Mangone, then Yonkers Councilwoman Sandy Annabi and former Yonkers Republican Chairman Zehy Jereis. Mangone has since been convicted. BTW, if Annabi sticks out her chest, flips her long dark hair and flashes her infectious smile, she might walk. Unfortunately, Jereis can do the same things but it won’t have the same results. To add insult to injury, Jereis’ wife is a member of the Assemblyman’s staff. Ouch!

In the Sunday Journal News, the never-ending left of left Editorial Board has made their County Legislative endorsements. With no surprises whatsoever, they have endorsed, wait for it, the current crop of democratic legislators, throwing Republican John Testa the token republican endorsement - wow! What renegades they are! This Board wouldn’t recognize a good challenger if the opponent quit, the challenger saved Barak’s life, found employment for the 18% unemployed in America and balanced the budget while providing free health care to every American. This means the challengers have a very good shot at winning.

The League of Liberal Voters, aka League of Women Voters has put out their election diatribe detailing all the candidates for the elections throughout our region. The problem with it is the slant. Upon close scrutiny, you’ll notice some slights against the challengers, who happen to usually be Republicans. Plus, by the time the challengers find out they must have their blurb in for publication, it’s almost too late and theirs is not as polished as the incumbents submission.

News 12, a formerly decent broadcaster of news has “slicked-up” their candidate debates down to about five minutes per candidate, offering you no real insight to the candidates. It also offers no real insight to the hope and change we were promised, long for and are disappointingly still not getting from any of our elected leaders. You can watch these debates over and over again and still wonder if any real questions and answers will be forthcoming or if it would have been more informative to watch an old episode of Who’s Line Is It Anyway?

They Don’t Hold Telethons

2011-10-08T07:54:00.005-04:00

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, certainly a worthy cause that seems to touch us all at some point. With me, it was last year when my mother contracted breast cancer. Thankfully, she’s a survivor, no doubt because of the strides made with this killer disease. It’s easy for so many like our family to be “on board” in the fight against breast cancer.

There are other great charities doing terrific work, some are “under the radar” and some are not. I've only picked three to touch on while there are many. The first is the Salvation Army (www.salvationarmyusa.org). They don’t do anything as “noble” as look for cures for cancer, but their value is in the day-to-day lives that they affect. We’re all familiar with the yearly Christmas bell-ringers and their red buckets collecting change as you enter or exit a store. The bell pierces the chilled atmosphere yearly, signaling the official start of the Christmas season. I always donate to many of them, as I know what the benefit of my $10 or $5 will do.

The main reason I like the Salvation Army, was developed years ago as a rookie firefighter. Back in my early days, we actually had a lot of real, “working” fires. And at most working fires the Salvation Army’s signature red truck would roll up to the scene and offer coffee and donuts or juice and a sandwich to anyone there. They didn’t ask who you were, which was pretty obvious for the firefighters and cops, but civilians and victims were welcome too. Somebody simply passing by could stop and ask for a coffee and they'd get it! They just served. And when they ran out, they got more. Most importantly, they never asked for anything from anyone. That left an indelible impression on me and became my defacto charity for years. Then I found out that most of the money donated to them is used for the needy, not administration. I felt even more positive about my choice. Ironically an employee I knew from the United Way told me most of my donations to them went toward administrative resources. That ended that relationship.

My next important charity is the Just Imagine Making Miracles Yours (J.I.M.M.Y.) Foundation (www.justimaginemakingmiraclesyours.org). A number of years ago I was told through the fire network in Westchester that there was a boy from Somers who needed blood transfusions to help him battle a brain tumor. The Katonah Fire Department was sponsoring the blood drive for the firefighter’s son. I called the firefighter and asked if I could help by advertising this event with a story. At the time, I wrote for an online publication and could write about whatever I chose. I followed this story closely for several years until their young son succumbed to the tumor at the age of six.

Most people wanted to help. Most of us volunteer as firefighters and EMS to help people. Some people were able to donate time toward helping the family directly. Some didn’t know what to do. Others, also not knowing what to do, but knowing how expensive treatments were, donated money. After their son, Jimmy, died, the family took the unspent donations and started the Just Imagine Making Miracles Yours Foundation to help sick, terminally ill children and their families. With little fanfare, this small organization raises money all year long, only to turn around and donate it to families who struggle with bills and expenses while they are trying to help cure their kids. Some times, there is no cure and their child dies. The burden a family struggles with is why they do what they do – the group that runs the J.I.M.M.Y. Foundation has been there and tries to offer a bit of stress relief whenever possible. All money donated to them is used for helping sick kids and their families.

My other favorite is Toys For Tots (www.toysfortots.org). Enormously successful, they started out small and have grown beyond just the holiday season. In fact, they accept new, unwrapped toys for kids all year now. When they started it was simply to supply toys to needy kids for Christmas. Now they do the same thing but their network of volunteers and agencies that help them has grown exponentially. But don’t think that just because they got bigger they are not deserving of your help. They are.

My point of all this is not to ignore or shun one charity for another. They are all worthwhile. But look around a bit and you’ll see some pretty amazing people doing some amazing things to help others right in your own backyard. They don’t hold telethons, the stars don’t come out or pledge their help, and yet they just keep moving the equation forward. Sadly, amidst all the tragedy, there are scammers hoping to hijack your money, not concerned with the fact that a parent couldn’t pay the rent or the electric bill so they could pay for another treatment for their child. Maybe the J.I.M.M.Y. Foundation will cover it. Maybe someone else or some other group will. That’s why these smaller, lesser-known organizations need our help. They get it done while the big guys are busy getting publicity.

The red buckets and the bell ringers will soon be doing their thing, once again signaling the start of another holiday season. Many people are suffering because of the economy, their own doing or something beyond their control. Whether through an agency such as the J.I.M.M.Y. Foundation, or just a simple act of kindness, they deserve our help. Look around and see what you can do.

A Neighborhood of Dependency or Learning?

2011-09-29T09:41:00.000-04:00

The French American School purchased 128 acres in White Plains to consolidate their campuses. Many thought it was a win-win for the school and the community as it would preserve much of the open space that was once the golf course of the Ridgeway Country Club. And yet, residents near Gedney Farms see it another way and are lobbying to prevent the school from making Ridgeway their new home. In a recent debate for the County Legislative 5th District’s seat, the topic came up. The three candidates danced around the issue without giving a firm answer. Aren’t you tired of politicians playing it safe and not giving answers? I know I am.

Terrence Guerriere, a real estate attorney and President of the Gedney Farms Association, recently voiced his concerns on a local radio show. Gedney Farms has about 1,400 residents who have enjoyed a relative quiet lifestyle due to their proximity to the golf course. Residents believe that 1,200 students, teachers, and administrators coming into their neighborhoods Monday through Fridays would change the character of their peaceful neighborhood. Really? In Fulton Park, which has seen homeless, ex-convicts and drug users dumped in our neighborhood for years. We’d love a school. I guess it’s all about perspective.

A more salient issue is that the former country club paid about $300,000 in property taxes to White Plains, and a tax-exempt school would not, causing White Plains residents to bear an even larger tax burden. The school would require infrastructure changes to sewers and roads and could increase the risk of flooding as much of the property is located on wetlands. Having just been flooded out myself (8ft of water in my basement), the infrastructure proposals are probably inadequate. The school would require an increase in services for sanitation, police and firemen. I disagree. There is only the need for police and fire if there is a crime and/or fire. The staffing of both are adequate to address anything that might happen at the school or its property. Sanitation would be provided for by a private carting service.

The French American School submitted plans for a $60 million, four-building complex to the city of White Plains this past May. If approved, they’d be consolidating three separate locations from Larchmont, Mamaroneck and Scarsdale into one, allowing K through 12th grade to all be in one location. Aren’t all our politicians clamoring for consolidation, whether it is viable or not? Here’s a start.

According to the school, “plans for the property would preserve over 60 acres of the site as permanent and publicly accessible open space; restore and enhance the natural conditions of the site; and improve the existing stormwater and drainage conditions of the property. Less than five percent of the site will be covered by impervious surfaces.” However skeptical neighbors wonder who will bear the cost to maintain the 60 acres of open space and wetlands. There is nothing mentioned regarding increasing the ability of the infrastructure outside the property to be able to handle the additional drainage from the site. This is one of the most focused upon issue in our flooded neighborhood.

If not a school, what would Guerriere prefer to see on the site? “A golf course,” he replied. He claims that the White Plains Comprehensive Plan said that the best use of the property is a golf course, and if not, there should be single-family homes. According to Guerriere, the area is zoned for ¾ acre lots and since much of the property is wetlands only 30 homes could be built on the 128 acres. While I appreciate his position and want to agree, White Plains passed on the purchase of the land when they had the opportunity. I would be happy it’s a school moving in and not more subsidized housing? School is only open from 8AM to 3PM, and maybe 6-ish with extracurricular activities. Between holidays, summers off, and limited hours, its not a bad option considering what they could get.

In my town, Supervisor Paul Feiner has created neighborhoods of dependency and guaranteed votes at reelection time by committing lower social-econmic people to his largesse, while the rest of us must fund it! When a forty-eight unit subsidized housing unit was proposed for our neighborhood, Paul Feiner went pedal-to-the-metal to make it happen. No neighborhood wants this. We would have gladly taken a school.

For now, the White Plains Common Council has imposed a moratorium on the development of open space and plans to extend it beyond the October 3rd expiration date. That's a smart direction to pursue. The extension would give the city more time to study land-use laws for four golf courses, the Hutchinson River Parkway Reservation and the Mamaroneck River East Branch. Again, really? They should have gone through all of this before the FASNY property purchase or told them they would be stopped early on. In the meantime, the Council did vote to move forward with an environmental review of the French American School’s proposed project. That’s a positive sign for FASNY but still doesn’t adequately address the neighbors concerns. Maybe there’ll be a politician with an opinion and will actually take a stand on this. It should be interesting to see how it plays out.

Reduce or Eliminate Taxes For Flood Victims

2011-09-22T10:42:00.000-04:00

I was surfing for some firematic and flood articles and came across an interesting tidbit out of Albany. It reminds me of the comment Fulton Park Civic Association President Maria Gomez, made at the last Greenburgh Town Board meeting. In response to the ludicrous suggestion by Paul Feiner that maybe FEMA would purchase homes in the flood zone, she told the Board if they really wanted to help the victims of the flooding, lower their taxes! Well, along those same lines, a new legislative bill would exempt New York flood victims from state sales tax for their moving expenses and for purchases that replace clothing, appliances and other items.

The proposal by two upstate lawmakers — Assemblyman James Tedisco and Sen. Hugh Farley — would cover the sales tax on storage, furniture and other purchases large and small necessitated by the flooding damage caused by from tropical storms Irene and Lee. Why aren’t any of our local lawmakers, otherwise normally whores for publicity, offering the same type of relief?

Flood victims would be reimbursed for disaster purchases through a tax credit as long as they have receipts.

The bill could be taken up in January or earlier if the Legislature calls a special session this fall. Let’s hope the politicians can put the partisanship aside and unite for the victims.

The Behavior of Both Sides Stinks!

2011-09-12T14:58:00.001-04:00

As a registered Republican, I voted for County Executive Rob Astorino. During the same election period, I ran for County Legislator and lost. While disappointed, I’m not bitter. However, there does seem to be bitterness between the parties that may or may not simply be partisanship at its worst. I’m almost glad I’m not there. Regardless, I’m disheartened with the behavior of both sides – it just stinks! To be clear, I won’t give a pass to any politician’s behavior merely because of party affiliation.

The County Legislators recently voted to override the County Executive’s veto to move forward with the repairs necessary to preserve the home owned by soldier Elijah Miller, host to General George Washington during the Revolutionary War. The building is located on Virginia Road in North White Plains, and also has plans to move it nearer the Kensico Dam. It is surrounded by commercial properties and lacks easy access and parking. While I am emotionally against changing its location for historic reasons, intelligent thought warrants it. I vaguely remember visiting this treasure on a field trip as a grammar school student. Back in the day, I couldn’t appreciate the significance of it. I recall thinking something to the effect that this was a trip away from school and we get to look at more old stuff. Old stuff indeed!

The overwhelming and most troubling part of this entire debacle is the point that this historic landmark has been owned and neglected by the County long before Astorino replaced Andy Spano as County Executive. Why wasn’t this mostly-the-same legislature not maintaining this landmark all along? It appears the responsibility and onus is not only Astorino’s, but the legislature's as well.

Astorino stated in his veto message, “Under the County Charter, the sole authority for the direction of a Commissioner is vested in the County Executive, and so the Act is a nullity since it goes beyond the powers conferred to your honorable board.” Well, there you go: the official answer as to why we will let a historic portion of our heritage in Westchester County rot before our eyes. Voting along with Astorino, but for different reasons was Democrat Mike “Tax-Hike” Kaplowitz of Somers, who supported the project but didn’t feel the economic times were right for the County to pick up the tab, saying, “I thought we should have had more of a group that would have helped offset some of the cost.” C’mon, Mike. If you support it, and the money has been appropriated, then just fix it. You’re trying to play both sides and not show any backbone when pressed later. Why haven’t you been leading the initiative to have a private/public confluence that can help offset the costs? Probably because that would mean actually doing something and we can’t have that, can we?

The legislature is playing games by ignoring an issue that never should have gotten to this point - had they been doing their due-diligence. Astorino apparently prefers to stand on principle rather than doing the right thing. They are both wrong! Astorino has told the two commissioners involved to put together a cost projection and time schedule to move the house. Prioritization is what’s missing here. There are two issues involved with the home and they don’t necessarily go hand in hand. The first is repairing the house; the second is moving the house.

During each campaign every candidate says how they will cross the isle to work with their colleagues from other parties and they can mend fences or have a knack of turning people from one position to another. It’s all campaign bull! This latest tug of war is proof. Fix the building and play the games later.

Indian Point or Dealing From the Bottom of the Deck

2011-08-06T17:57:00.001-04:00

Everyone, especially our politicians in Westchester seem to be jumping on the ‘close Indian Point’ bandwagon. Why? Probably because they know one of two things, although there certainly may be more. First, it has picked up steam (no pun intended) and seems to be the publicity-crazed cause celeb, providing unlimited exposure for all politicians. Two, not dissimilar to Paul Feiner's political strategy, they have no control over it, no real input about it and know nothing will happen for years, giving them unfettered amounts of publicity with no jeopardy to themselves. It’s a win-win for them.

In the recent Westchester Guardian, Abby Luby, a known opponent of Indian Point and nuclear energy in general, tells that, “The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has never rejected a single application tendered by any utility company seeking to keep their reactors online.” Could it simply be because the stringent measures that are routinely followed by these agencies mandating compliance to all rules and regulations, allows the NRC to not find cause to shut them down?

She states that, “A new generation of legal warriors with scheduled appeals and hotly debated contentions, have slowed some relicensing procedures to a global pace.” If I’m interpreting this correctly, she’s more concerned with stopping the plants relicensing than having an honest dialog, seeking real answers to her valid questions. This reminds me of the environmentalists who went after the manufacturers throughout New York State, complaining about their polluting of our rivers, streams, air, soil, etc. Let me be clear, I am just as concerned as they are about pollution. But by not having open and honest discussions, the consequences forced manufacturing out of New York, taking New York jobs with them! Are they doing the same thing with Indian Point and our power supply? It certainly seems possible. But we won’t know for years to come.

The environmentalists may be able to hold their fists in the air claiming victory, but are they really victorious? Lets see. They closed down the plant in YourTown, NY. The plant moved to China, as well as the job you or your next door neighbor held. Now that they’re gone, they are no longer polluting the nearby river and earth. Well, that’s good, isn’t it? Well, now that they’re in China, they’re polluting the Chinese water and soil. Surely, that’s bad? We all know that the regulations against pollution in China are less than what we have here in the US. The enforcement of the pollution standards in China are also less stringent. Let’s not forget the other countries such as Korea, India, Taiwan and such. So, if they hadn’t been so adamant about chasing the factories from here, and had open and honest dialog - working with them, we might have been able to better control the safety of our environment by more closely monitoring them for environmental conformity and helped keep jobs here, in New York. Can everybody work in medicine, public schools and for the state? No, of course not, but they can work at Sam’s Club, Walgreens or CVS for minimum wage.

The environmental extremists site the Fukushima reactor issue and say Indian Point is just as capable to have a serious accident. If they hadn’t made it so difficult for nuclear energy development for all these years by creating lawsuits and injunctions, perhaps we could have kept pace with France, who gets 80% of it’s power from safe nuclear energy and has a nuclear recycling program to deal with their spent fuel rods. But they’re not interested in dialog, just winning at whatever the cost!

Don’t misinterpret this post as being anti-environmental or pro-nuclear. What I’d like to see is discussion that is honest and not one-sided. I attended the “forum” Paul Feiner held, at tax-payer expense, that was nothing more than a close Indian Point rally. Why wouldn’t he try to rationally and intelligently inform the taxpayers and others of Greenburgh by presenting both sides of the coin, allowing for a pro or con decision to be made by the electorate? Probably because he’s a coward and afraid to do the right thing. It’s easier to pander to a sympathetic anti-nuke crowd, just as Abby Luby does.

Court Upholds Astorino’s Decision To End Money-Losing Contract

2011-08-04T15:03:00.000-04:00

In an important victory for the Astorino administration, a state Supreme Court judge has upheld the county executive’s decision last year – over the objections of the Democratic majority on the Board of Legislators – to end a money-losing contract with New York State to administer the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program.

Acting State Supreme Court Justice James W. Hubert threw out the lawsuit brought by the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) on behalf of 38 employees who lost their jobs when the contract was terminated at the end of last year.

In October of 2010, the county gave the state the required 60 day notice to terminate its contract to administer Section 8 vouchers for low-income individuals and families because it was losing $500,000 a year on the deal. At the time, Westchester was one of only four counties with such contracts with the state.

The judge ruled that the county executive had the right to end the contract and that the Board of Legislators could not restore the jobs of the 38 employees assigned to the program because it had failed to appropriate any money for their return.

Administering the Section 8 program cost the county $4.5 million a year, of which $4 million was reimbursed, leaving the county with a $500,000 loss. Since terminating the contract, the county has turned that loss into a gain because it is now leasing space to the state’s new administrator of the program. The deal will pay the county just over $1 million over the next five years.

Astorino said the net benefit to the taxpayers would have been more had the Board of Legislators followed his lead. Because the Board of Legislators took the side of the union in the case, the County Attorney had to recuse himself. This forced the county executive to hire outside legal counsel at a cost of about $55,000.

Following the termination of the Section 8 contract with the county, the state contracted with CVR Associates to administer the program. CVR is a national company certified by the U.S. General Services Administration to manage affordable housing programs, including housing choice voucher programs. Its clients include the Chicago Housing Authority and the Boston Housing Authority, among many others.

By leasing space to the state for the Section 8 program, Westchester County will get $1.1 million over the course of the five-year deal. Under the terms of the five-year-lease, the county will receive about $237,000 a year in rental income for almost 9,300 square feet of space at its building at 112. E. Post Road, White Plains.

In addition to the state’s Section 8 program now run by CVR, 13 local municipalities and public housing authorities across Westchester run their own Section 8 programs. Those agencies contract directly with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Portions of this article came from the County's website.

Sunnydale Farms & Village Café Closes - Leaves Gap in Community

2011-08-03T16:34:00.004-04:00

In 1973, Nirmal Singh and Jogi Singh (not related) opened Sunnydale Farms at 721 Saw Mill River Road, in Ardsley. Sunnydale Farms would later expand and encompass the Village Café and has been open every day for the last thirty years. This is a remarkable feat given most businesses fail in the first five years. Their longtime employee, David McCleary, started working for them in high school and has been at the restaurant since.

The Singhs have closed both locations and the future of this shopping strip mall includes putting in a Vietnamese restaurant and a Citibank branch. Apparently, there are not enough banks, drug stores, high price restaurants in our area. The landscape of Westchester, and for that matter, New York and the nation, is slowly changing into big corporations, eroding the small-town feel of Ardsley, and ultimately every Village and Town. Shopping locally is becoming more and more difficult to do.

ABG doesn't believe more large chains stores such as CVS’, Walgreens, Rite Aids, Sam’s Clubs, Chase, Citibank and others, necessarily helps a village have that hometown feel. We do need grocery stores, hardware stores, stationery stores, bakeries, auto repair shops, local drug stores, opticians and other types of small businesses in our communities. We need them because these are the people who own and the run the businesses and support and finance our communities. Otherwise, while it may not hurt to have the chain-stores in our communities, an executive at their corporate headquarters making decisions on how to run an Ardsley store can't be good. In the end, the Village Café was a part of the fabric of Ardsley and ultimately, Westchester County. “The community loved us and welcomed us," Jogi said. "It was an honor and a privilege for us. We are thankful to everybody.”

We wish them the best of luck and hope they are able to relocate within Ardsley. They’ll be missed.

Welcome to the United States of Communism

2011-07-28T16:58:00.000-04:00

I've been listening to the Obama debt crisis and how everybody else is at fault. Yet during this whole thing, some interesting commentaries came up from sources I typically don't participate with. There was a talk show out of Canada that I tuned into last night on AM radio - a shocker to be sure, and their discussion was well under way. Since it was about 2 AM and the lights were out, I don't know what station it was or who it was doing the talking.

But what I did manage to remember was their topic was about the book The Naked Communist by W. Cleon Skousen. The host and some listeners were comparing our President, the debt crisis and our society in America to what it once was, what it is and what it looks to become. They specifically said the communist influence has been slow and steady from the inside and Americans need to wake up before they lose all their freedoms to the state. I guess they haven't been in New York lately.

They discussed the goals of the Communists and how they wish to alter America and move from democracy to communism. After reading these points, which I was stunned by, I can see the change that's taken place during my lifetime. Maybe you can see them too? Read this list and then decide.

[From "The Naked Communist," by Cleon Skousen]

CURRENT COMMUNIST GOALS

1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war.

2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war.

3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament [by] the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength.

4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war.

5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites.

6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination.

7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N.

8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev’s promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N.

9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress.

10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N.

11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.)

12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party.

13. Do away with all loyalty oaths.

14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office.

15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States.

16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights.

17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers’ associations. Put the party line in textbooks.

18. Gain control of all student newspapers.

19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack.

20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions.

21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures.

22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to “eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms.”

23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. “Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art.”

24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them “censorship” and a violation of free speech and free press.

25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV.

26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as “normal, natural, healthy.”

27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with “social” religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a “religious crutch.”

28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of “separation of church and state.”

29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis.

30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the “common man.”

31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the “big picture.” Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over.

32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture–education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc.

33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus.

34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities.

35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI.

36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions.

37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business.

38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand [or treat].

39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals.

40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce.

41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents.
42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use ["]united force["] to solve economic, political or social problems.

43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government.

44. Internationalize the Panama Canal.

45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction [over domestic problems. Give the World Court jurisdiction] over nations and individuals alike.

Taxed Enough Already? There Might Be Hope

2011-07-27T15:30:00.014-04:00

There’s a resurgence underway. I attended a Taxed Enough Already (TEA) meeting in White Plains this past Saturday. It was attended, if you will, over-attended, by about 150 people of various ages, political affiliation and income. The theme was a common one of dissatisfaction with the political climate in Westchester, New York and the nation. What stood out more was the desire by those in attendance to expect and receive more honesty and responsiveness from our governmental officials.

I've attended several TEA meetings in the past and even spoken at one or two as a candidate. Each time was impressive as the people participating were hungry for positive change with our representation. It's unfortunate that the same media, hungry for access and the “big scoop”, have abrogated their responsibility to society, woefully abandoning our need for them to scrutinize government and its leaders actions and inactions. They only seem interested when they find some sexual escapade that they can feature on the six o'clock news.

The TEA people did not appear to be kooks or wackos as they've repeatedly been portrayed by the lamestream media, hoping to discredit them. Their speakers were impressive and the main, featured speaker was TEA Party member, newly elected NYS Assemblyman Steve Katz. He spoke with passion for about twenty minutes to a half hour, highlighting some (?) of the dysfunction in Albany and what he and others are trying to do to counter it. In the end, this is the type of representative I want in Albany and Washington.

One legislative candidate’s representative got up to speak and said that ‘his’ candidate, when elected, will vote with County Executive Rob Astorino, breaking the stranglehold we see in the County Legislature. A man sitting at the table opposite me said that wasn’t what he wanted in a candidate, regardless of party affiliation. He wants a candidate, ultimately an elected official, who would scrutinize the pending issue and positions from both sides and vote appropriately on its merit, not party line. We don’t need a continuation or worsening of the same partisan politics. We need elected officials with backbone and the ability to do the right thing, not the comfortable or expedient thing. I know the candidate whom we were told will vote with Astorino and will be calling the candidate directly to discuss this issue. I’ll see how it goes and hope this was just a miscommunication. I too, want more from our representatives than partisanship.

There were several candidates at the meeting. Most notably was Mark Rosen, who is planning again to run against Nita Lowey for Congress. You may recall that Rosen was in the race in the last campaign but withdrew when he was recalled for duty to Afghanistan. Recently returned, he has been picking up his pace to get back into the political fray. You may also recall the Republicans then endorsed Paul Wasserman, a newly converted Democrat to Republican until he dropped out for personal reasons. Finally, stalwart candidate Jim Russell begrudgingly received the Republican nod only to implode when his earlier writings were exposed by the same people who sued the County over the Housing Desegregation.

The Republican and Democratic parties both seem locked in a pathetic partisan game of one-upmanship, disappointingly abandoning and alienating more and more voters. It’s why many don't even bother to vote any more. The Conservative Party is no longer endorsing conservative candidates and the Independence Party leader is literally working for the Democrats, subsequently handing out Independence Party endorsements to only the democratic candidates! It’s absurd and not showing signs of improving. Where’s all this hope and change we kept hearing about? Where are the promises made during the last election? Maybe it’s with more TEA endorsed candidates. Let’s hope!

Illegals Prefer Emergency Room Visits

2011-07-21T13:59:00.001-04:00

Polls indicate Obamacare will boost, not reduce Emergency Room visits. Supporters of the healthcare reform legislation passed by Congress claim it will reduce emergency room visits by providing nearly all Americans with the insurance they can use to see a primary care physician. I've seen first-hand a restructuring of the remaining area hospitals emergency rooms and now additional triage rooms. Why a triage area? Because the amount of people using the emergency rooms for primary care has negatively altered the real emergency care delivered for people with true emergencies.

A new survey by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) found that 97 percent of doctors every day treat Medicaid patients in their emergency departments because the patients could not find a doctor willing to treat them for the fee Medicaid would pay. If Obamacare provides insurance that reimburses physicians at Medicaid rates, visits to the ER will likely increase, according to ACEP. In fact, 89 percent of doctors polled said they believe ER visits will increase under Obamacare.

“This poll confirms what we are witnessing in Massachusetts — that visits to emergency rooms are going to increase across the country, despite healthcare reform, and that health insurance coverage does not guarantee access to medical care,” said ACEP President Sandra Schneider. “While hundreds of emergency rooms across the country have been forced to shut down due to financial issues, increasing the workload at those remaining open, and the healthcare reform law fails to address this issue,” she added.

In Sleepy Hollow, Phelps Memorial Hospital anticipates an increase to the tune in excess of $40 million of loss per year. When queried as to why, I was told because NYS law entitles anyone requesting medical aid treatment, specifically with ER’s, and they cannot be turned away. Nearly half of the physicians surveyed in ACEP’s poll said fear of lawsuits is the biggest challenge to cutting costs in emergency rooms, and 53 percent said their fear of lawsuits was the main reason for ordering many of the tests they perform. That speaks volumes. The intent of not turning people away from ER’s requesting treatment was originally meant to provide emergency care to those truly in need, but without health insurance or a job with income. Once again, the extremists morphed this into what they wanted it to be, ultimately forcing the closure of many hospitals. Locally, we’ve seen Saint Agnes Hospital in White Plains, and United Hospital of Port Chester, close.

The effects of closing hospitals in our area has been dramatic. While it’s not politically correct to say who benefits the most from this liberal interpretation of the NYS law requiring treatment for all, the people working in the ER’s tell me it’s primarily the illegal alien population, aided by patient rights representatives that we also pay for. All of our area hospitals have recently renovated their emergency room areas to have more seats in the waiting room, more beds in the ER, larger staffs, and most importantly, larger triage areas. Why is that important? Because ambulances routinely bring victims and patients in around-the-clock. What used to be a routine call for them of 45 minutes to and hour, has been increased to at least an hour to an hour and a half. And, most are volunteer fire or ems personnel, giving their time to their communities. When they arrive at a hospital, they can no longer allow just any nurse or doctor “sign off” on receiving a patient. Now specific triage people must do that. Then there’s the sometimes long wait just to get a patient off of their stretcher onto the hospitals stretcher or bed. Going to an emergency room nowadays is like visiting a Friendly's Restaurant: there are a lot of people moving around and looking busy, but nobody is helping you! Get used to it.

Undocumented Immigrants To Get Tuition Breaks – and More!

2011-07-17T07:13:00.002-04:00

A headline buried inside the Journal News read, Undocumented Immigrants Getting Tuition Breaks. This is the very type of issue and position that is what’s wrong with our current crop of legislators. The issue can be morphed into a Town of Greenburgh issue. Maryland, Illinois and Connecticut are all poised to allow illegal immigrants, undocumented workers, aliens, etc., the ability to go to school, as are Oregon and Rhode Island. While the need for an education is paramount to all, it should be to all if they are a legal, tax paying resident of their state and our country.

Recently, Victor Rojas, 16 years old, of Greenburgh, was arrested for hosting an underage drinking and drug-use party of about sixty kids. Police arrested Rojas and charged him with underage drinking, hosting a party with alcohol, and such. Where were his parents during this illegal event? Police found a sixteen year old girl passed out on the floor from apparent an alcohol overdose. His parents were also charged. Interestingly, he gave his address as 21 McKinnley Street in White Plains. And, while being questioned, he bit a police officer. So in addition to being arrested for 25 counts of unlawfully dealing with a child for allegedly supplying alcohol at the party, he added assaulting a police officer. It remains to be seen if he will be prosecuted as a youthful offender or an adult.

The other crime here, beyond the drugs and alcohol usage is that he and his family were committing fraud against the White Plains School District using his aunt’s address in White Plains. So Rojas’ phony permanent address enabled him to attend the White Plains schools instead of the Greenburgh schools. His mother would drive him to school daily and pick him up at the end of the day. The crime? Falsely attending one school district’s school while living outside the district and financially defrauding them by attending their school.

Many would say it’s no big deal. But it is. These same people would say the undocumented immigrants (not so with Rojas), vis á vis illegal aliens, need an education too. In fact they’re entitled to it. While that’s debatable, who pays for it is not up for debate, so in fact, they are not entitled. The taxes to fund our school systems are paid by taxpaying property owners – nobody else. Legal citizens pay. If they are actual property owning immigrants, who followed our rules and regulations about being here and are playing by the rules, they have a say in the issue. As such, these are the people that should be making these decisions, not some vote-hungry politician who knows if it’s presented in their liberal state, not enough people will rise up and vote against it. In time it will get worse.

Lawmakers Playing Games Again

2011-07-16T16:55:00.002-04:00

Government Discrimination
Our County lawmakers are delusional. In the Saturday Journal News headline, “Astorino: HUD Actions Go To Far”, by Gerald McKinstry, states, “Democrats on the Board of Legislators criticized the administration for going it alone and called Astorino’s announcement ‘highly disappointing’.” However, this is the same legislature that then County Executive Andy Spano also chose to exclude during the plea deal process he brokered with the Housing and Urban Development arm of the Federal Government with the Housing Desegregation Lawsuit. I think it speaks volumes when the Democratic County Executive choses to not work hand-in-hand with his democratic Legislature!

McKinstry’s article states the parameters of the Housing Desegregation settlement that democrat Andy Spano agreed to with democratic-majority approval from the previous legislature. It mandates that Westchester leverage $51.6 million for the creation of 750 affordable homes over seven years in 31 of Westchester’s mostly white communities for ONLY blacks and hispanics. That's not a reversal of discrimination, rather, its a government sanctioned discrimination. Is one really better than another? I don't think so.

Stand For Your Conviction
County Executive Astorino believes the segregation agreement was the wrong decision to make. As then County Executive Spano stated in one of his press conferences, he just wanted the county’s legal department to make this lawsuit go away. In lawyer-speak, this means find a way to settle. They did. Then his legislature did. Now Astorino won’t abide by the two decisions. Good for him. Finally, we’re seeing some leadership in Westchester. By the way, I don’t agree with everything Astorino is trying to do via his methodology, but in principal find more to agree with than disagree.

Interestingly, the legislature should be in agreement with the County Executive. When the hearings regarding the settlement were taking place, the majority of individuals who spoke were against the settlement, maintaining we were not racist or prejudiced against anyone moving in next door. The only people who spoke in support of the settlement were those in the DSS system receiving benefits or a paycheck. I spoke to one single-parent woman who believed she was now going to be able to move to Scarsdale and have her children attend the Scarsdale schools. She wasn’t interested in discussing other ramifications her children might experience being there or the lottery she’d need to be chosen from to move there.

Shameless Self-Promotion
In the ‘Westchester County Board of Legislators NEWS’ boilerplate mailing, which is really nothing more than a campaign piece in disguise, it states there was an increase in Westchester’s total population by 3%, or 25,654 people. The biggest growth was in the northern part of the county, with the southern part losing population. I know taxes are lower up north and the amount of property per dollar ratio is significantly greater, offering more bang for the buck; there are no known gangs, although there soon will be; less traffic and less congestion; malls with free parking and the list goes on. Could any of these along with unmentioned reasons be the cause for the shift? No doubt.

Movin’ On Up
From the same campaign piece: “The Hispanic/Latino population grew by 21% in the county, reflecting the largest demographic growth, with Port Chester now 59.4% Hispanic/Latino and Sleepy Hollow now 51.5% Hispanic/Latino.” What’s not mentioned because its not within the scope of the census, is the influx of the same groups into the county, and how many are living in illegally adapted housing, whether they are working legitimately or in the “gray market” (on the books paying withholding taxes or working for cash); are in gangs; may be here legally or not? The list of questions goes on. We see more and more communities alarmed not over the influx of legal immigrants, but that of the illegal ones and the services we are bound to provide to them by law as long as they simply apply, straining our already limited funds. We even increase this ease by accommodating them with language interpreters. Just think of how many of our seniors who have paid their taxes for their entire lives could be receiving help if the funds were available...

What Westchester Legislators Believe
So if the County Legislators are to be believed, Westchester is racist because they favor continued blind adherence to the settlement. Astorino does not. They send out mailings, which the latest one admits that there is a huge increase in the minority population. They should be standing next to Astorino, fists held high, championing the cause against the settlement because without county interference, the population balance has shifted. It doesn't mean anything though as Ken Jenkins and crew insist on fostering partisan politics, not what is good for the County and it’s residents. I still maintain we are not racists. If you can afford to live in any community, then you do. No real estate agent, home seller or other type of seller, especially in this economic climate, will turn down a sale.

School Board Arrogance

2011-06-17T09:34:00.002-04:00

Greenburgh taxpayers experience yearly tax increases from our Supervisor and his hand-picked Town Board. It’s bad enough that Paul Feiner continually acts illegally; now we see the Central 7 School District, yearly violators of the public trust, resubmitting their previously defeated school budget, AS IT WAS, when it was defeated for a vote this Tuesday.

In today's Journal News, the only daily newspaper left in Westchester, albeit on one leg, Carolyn Jones penned a letter to the editor pasted below:

“The Greenburgh Central 7 School Board is at it again. The voters defeated their proposed 5.88 percent tax hike last month. Their brochure before the vote said they would abide by the election results.

After the vote, the school board president said it was a bad idea to resubmit the same budget.

Yet, on Tuesday, June 21, the board is putting the exact same budget up for a vote again. No thoughts of cuts to the $363,232 for the chief school administrator or to anything else.

This show of contempt will spend taxpayer money for a needless election just to try to soothe the board members' egos.

Please go to the Woodlands gym Tuesday June 21 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. and vote no one last time to this same 5.88 percent tax hike budget.

Carolyn Jones
Hartsdale”

I felt it important to reprint here because she accurately and succinctly makes the case for everybody to get out and vote against this budget. The school board knows that for a special election, they'll not see a big turn out, resulting in the probable passage of this previously defeated budget. What happened to our newly elected Board members? Why aren't they protesting this move? Are they looking to go along to get along like others before them? If they are, they shouldn't get too comfortable in their newly elected seats.

The 2011-12 spending by the Greenburgh School Board will increase by 1.8%, based on an estimated tax rate of $435.77 per $1k assessed value. This will result in a 5.8% school tax increase! The only "No" vote was from the President, Lloyd Newland, whom we think actually gave the taxpayers a brief thought of concern. There were three incumbent candidates who ran, and two won, Charles Bronz and Terry Williams. While they were re-elected, Monique Haygood-Massey was defeated. I think out of the three, I would have kept Haygood-Massey, but then again, I usually don't run with the herd.

It's the incumbent ones, such as Charles Bronz and Terry Williams, who will say they do it for the children, not the unions or the special interests or the salary increases. It's bull! People are struggling but the "old timers" such as these are not interested in the public or the children, just keeping their little fiefdoms in place.

We're not getting good candidates willing to run for anything anymore. The political machines make it a point to tear down good people if they aren't towing the party line. Trust me, I know how this feels. We're only getting people who follow, not lead. We see it with Bronz's successor, Alfreda Williams and now we may see it with Williams’ Town Clerk pick. Even the Democrat taxpayers should find this objectionable.

We need to get away from this partisan hatred that has pervaded and overtaken politics. We need balance in everything we do, politics included. We need people to join in, not tune out. We need to do it for the kids. I say that tongue and cheek because when things get sticky, everything is always for the kids. Reality is, we need to do it for us all.

5.8% School Tax Increase; They Think We Don't Get It!

2011-05-23T09:36:00.006-04:00

Last week saw most school districts' yearly school budget vote. And, as in year's past, the worn, dog-eared "Vote Yes" signs came out of the closet, from behind the workbench, or down from the attic storage to be used yet again, for the children. It's always for the children. Never do the signs display the truth, that its For the Administrators or For the Teachers or For the Unions. Sure, it's disingenuous, but it also perpetuates the stereotypical blight that our schools claim to find themselves in at each school election cycle.

The Journal News, nowadays reduced in physical dimension and content to the size of a flyer, reported that only three budgets were rejected. One that was rejected but wasn't mentioned in the article was the Greenburgh Central 7 school budget. The vote was 403 to 398. The budget lost by five votes and will require a re-vote on June 21. But that wasn't mentioned. Add to the defeat that the sitting Board members don't want to have an austerity budget prepared and voted on. Rather, they just want this same budget re-proposed, knowing that the public won't come out en masse and it will pass as is!

The Journal News could have done more with this story but didn't. It's not that I want them to knock Greenburgh; rather, I simply hope they would do their jobs and report all aspects of what is going on, investigating where required and not be stenographers for any politicians. Just do your job!

The 2011-12 spending by the Greenburgh School Board will increase by 1.8%, based on an estimated tax rate of $435.77 per $1k assessed value. This will result in a 5.8% school tax increase! The only "No" vote was from the President, Lloyd Newland. Why? The other Board members voted yes. Out of the three incumbent candidates who ran, two, Charles Bronz and Terry Williams were re-elected and one, Monique Haygood-Massey was defeated. Perhaps voters decided it was time for a bit of a change. I know all of them and know they are nice people. But after being in office for so many years, they all may have gotten stale and should be rotated out. Out of those three, I think the voters got it wrong. New blood, new ideas and new solutions? It could just work.

I had a conversation with one candidate campaigning outside the Woodlands gymnasium and asked why should I vote for her? She said there were a number of things she would like to see change. One of the greatest challenges is the amount of administrators the Greenburgh system has. I agree. She also said the pension system is cause for concern and needs improvement. I agree. She said we can't keep operating with business as usual. I agree. Two of my concerns was that if she's elected, will she a) be able to challenge the incumbents who tend to feel more bulletproof after an election; b) will continue on her proposed track when times turn around. We'll see.

The school taxes are the real killer for Greenburgh tax payers. Politicians who pander to the next feel-good cause, as our Supervisor does when he feels it's time to get his name out there, don't really serve the public, but themselves. It's why term limits are so attractive to many. If we're really concerned about rising taxes in Greenburgh, lets hold the school board members feet to the fire. If they ignore us, let's clean house and start with a new slate. Don't buy into their spin that only they know how the system works and should remain. Good people will learn the ropes in short time, as they once did, and be able to bring about real change - not for the children, but for their parents!

Vincent Leibell: Guilty Is, As Guilty Wants

2011-04-23T13:00:00.004-04:00

Whenever the discussions of criminals getting caught arises, someone always asks the obvious: “How much illegal activity did the perpetrator commit before they got caught?” We’d all like to know, but rarely get that insight.

In the Saturday edition of the Journal News ‘circular’, Mike Risinit’s article discusses the moves, which seem more like contortions, of the now guilty Vincent Leibell. He’s seeking to forego doing his two years of jail time by “offering” to “serve” his time oversees helping to forge the future of countries now in turmoil, such as Libya and Iraq. Our question is a simple one: how about the turmoil Leibell create here in the Hudson Valley and New York? What can he do about that? Go to jail. Relinquish his state pension, repay the monies lost or stolen and then serve his time in jail such as other disgraced politicos as Eliot Spitzer and Alan Hevesi.

I quote from the Journal News: “Leibell's letter, along with those from his wife, Helen; his mother-in-law; his children; local officials; former Albany colleagues and others are among more than 100 letters submitted to the judge by his lawyer, David L. Lewis. The writers include former Sen. Nicholas Spano of Yonkers, Sen. Steve Saland of Poughkeepsie and Putnam County Clerk Dennis Sant. They are attached to an 84-page document in which Lewis explains why Leibell should serve no jail time.”

First, I expect his immediate family to plead on his behalf, but wonder about his mother in law’s motivation. Sorry, bad mother-in-law joke. His attorney, David L. Lewis, says that due to Leibell’s age, no prior criminal history, his public service and his need for alcohol treatment, Leibell should not be sentenced to jail.

Second, regardless of his age, he broke the law, which has no statue of limitation on age. Once we caught him, he pled guilty and he needs to pay the price for breaking the law. If average people are convicted of a crime, they should go to jail. We also know that politicians get preferential treatment. Don’t be surprised when his punishment is meted out by the courts, it’s all house arrest with time served, community service, and probation, ultimately avoiding jail time completely. He won’t need to scheme his way out of jail. But, as a self-admitted criminal, it’s all he is used to doing.

Third, his ‘no prior criminal history’ is a joke. Poorly executed crimes by incompetent criminals usually end with their getting caught the first time around. Leibell was a skilled criminal who did not get caught for quite some time.

Fourth, there is a criminal history, he just didn't get caught for it. His public service and illegal activities during the same period is why he got caught and pled guilty to these crimes.

Fifth, irony intended, he is in need of alcohol treatment. I believe they offer that in prison and being incarcerated is a great way to not have to worry about a relapse. This reminds me of every entertainer who hasn’t gotten any press or publicity, so they announce they were abused as a child.

Sixth, and finally, he pled guilty! He admitted he did what he was charged with. This was a blatant admission once he got caught breaking the law. Rather than have them dig into other activities of his life, and find other illegal or at least questionable dealings, knowing what they’d find, he took everything off the table with his admission of guilt.

In the end, another shamed, guilty politician’s shenanigans were brought out into the open and the cause of his demise. Let his family and friends write all the letters they’d like. Just keep these requests at arms length and give the public justice. There are many politicians and future politicians who are upstanding citizens. These are the people we want to represent us. Good luck, Mr. Leibell.

Elmsford Little League Has Major League Grand Marshall

2011-04-12T20:06:00.000-04:00

As signs of spring painstakingly take it's time arriving, one constant happens without fail, the Elmsford Little League's Annual Parade, kicking off the baseball season. This year would be a bit different as the kids lined up on North Stone Avenue.

The band leads the parade.

Grand Marshall NY Mets & NY Yankees star Darryl Strawberry, leads the procession of baseball players.

Fire trucks make every parade official.

Yes, more players and parents than ever before would be participating in the parade. Yes, the fire department with it's personnel on board and the shiny fire trucks would be at the end of the parade. Yes, they would all proceed down the side streets of Elmsford, onto Route 9A and into the Elmsford Little League Field. And yes, the Grand Marshall, former NY Met and NY Yankee Darryl Strawberry would smile and continually wave and greet fans and players. Yes, today everybody was a Darryl Strawberry fan. Yes, today everybody was a baseball fan. And yes, spring had finally sprung - at least enough to have one of the most fun, purely baseball, and purely child-like days in Elmsford. This was simply a nice day where everything fell into place. The police department and the highway department made sure of it. Thanks to everyone, especially to Darryl Strawberry, an honorary Elmsford Little Leaguer. Who's next?

Russian Roulette On Our Streets!

2011-04-01T18:06:00.002-04:00

Driving throughout the Town lately has turned into Russian Roulette with potholes. Outside of my driveway, I can't go anywhere by car without drifting, dodging, skirting or actually hitting a pothole somewhere in the Town. I'm sure our highway crew is out working, that's not my issue. Safety is. The pot hole crew, whomever they may be, should be out on overtime, especially when there is less traffic to impact, fixing and filling potholes. It would be nice, driving to work, to not have to worry about traffic, sun glare, coffee spilling, and the quick display of brake lights as several cars up ahead brake with their new-found surprises.

I've witnessed NYS pot hole crews on Rt 119, selectively filling voids, and wondered how it was determined that they would fill one but not the one right next to it? I understand the whole “stay within the lane” thing from a safety perspective. I also understand it's been a particularly harsh winter. While we go through this every year, it seems as though those in charge never really plan well for it. Add to this our Supervisor’s draining of our reserve funds which could be used in an emergency like this.

But beyond Rt 119, our minor roads and side streets are resembling roads that have been assaulted by IED's. The danger with all of this is obvious. As cars serve to avoid one pothole, they almost always go into another. And if they are lucky to not hit another vehicle, they are swerving into other lanes of traffic, whether oncoming or the same direction. Now thats scary. Wheel alignment machines throughout the Town are extremely busy.

Another safety issue is the bicyclists and walkers are roads that are trying to use already unsafe roads on a good day. We have seen an increase in cyclists due to several reasons, but the difficult street conditions for cars has exacerbated their tenuous space on the roads. In fact, Merrill Cassell, a resident of Hartsdale, was killed by a bus on Rt 119 and Aqueduct Place while he was cycling. And this was when the road conditions were okay.

Each weekend brings us added hours (albeit them overtime hours) that could have our crews repairing the roadways. Calling our state representatives about the state roads, such as Rt 119, should be on the top of the Supervisors to-do list each and every day until Greenburgh residents get some relief. Until then, I'll see you at the alignment shop.

Abinanti Introduces Bad Legislation

2011-03-31T10:06:00.006-04:00

It’s certainly no secret that I lost to Tom Abinanti in the race for the New York State 92^nd Assembly District. While I wasn't happy about losing, I’m not bitter about the outcome. I’m still happy with my campaign and believe with the absence of a war chest like his and the lack of help from the party, I did pretty well. I’m hoping in the future our constituents will see the reality of these vacuous, publicity driven pieces of legislation for what they are. Phony. I hope in the future the voters wake up and vote rationally, not strictly down party lines. We need thinkers.

In a recent Journal News article, Gerald McKinstry, writes about two bills Abinanti has introduced in Albany toward “reforming” tax assessments. Our first issue with this is that it’s not reform. He states, “Fair taxation should be the hallmark of Westchester County. Replacing our patchwork assessment system should be a top priority for state, county and local Westchester officials. In court challenges, tax assessments should be judged by appropriate standards.” He might be right, but it leads to our second issue. There’s a third issue as well, not generated by Abinanti.

Issue one is that all Abinanti is doing is tacking on an additional piece of legislation to the already dysfunctional tax system. He is not reforming, replacing or innovating our tax system from Albany. Ask him. He’ll have a dazzling spin that he had twenty years to hone as a County Legislator. What he’s introduced is a revised version of legislation that was already vetoed by Governor Pataki. But Abinanti knows if he repackages the legislation and reintroduces it, it has a real chance of passing with a new Democratic governor.

This legislation is purely another added layer of law on top of existing revaluation laws, albeit via billing and/or penalty fees and fines for non-compliance. The County will be authorized to mandate the revaluations. But as was seen with the previous legislation, they’ll still be incapable of doing the revaluations. This means all the communities that he will force to act with this unfunded state mandate will still have to do the revaluation at their expense. I am in favor of revaluation, but not as a mandate from a non-involved (until now) party.

Issue two is that he was part of the coalition in the County Legislature that has tried to take over revaluation by the County, co-opting the home rule authority of each community to do their own revaluations. In fact, the County spent $750,000 to do a photo flyover of all of Westchester County to have before and after pictures so once the bill passed, they could turn on the state's income spigot. How this $750,000 was appropriated is still unknown.

Issue three is the second piece of legislation to change the existing law to require courts to judge commercial property assessments on the basis of a commercial assessment ratio. This is another example of the state taking away our home-rule rights, almost bullying localities into doing something that they may or may not want to do. Regardless of whether they want to do the revaluation or not, it should be their choice, not the state of New York.

Many of of legislators are attorneys. Attorneys deal with and understand the law. This is another example of Abinanti only knowing one way to get noticed: write a law or two. We have enough laws. We have enough laws on revaluation. Perhaps this one should be shelved - for good.

Greenburgh Imploding, Feiner Lost in Headlights, Board Just Lost

2011-03-28T12:47:00.002-04:00

I attended the regular Greenburgh Town Board meeting last night. Believe me there isn't anything regular about these meetings. I'm embarrassed that a Russian contingency came to America and our Town Board was where they chose to come to audit a typical American government meeting. I'll bet a Yonkers' city council meeting would have been better. We probably sent the Russians back wondering how they lost to us given what they just witnessed.

The stalwarts were there, salivating in anticipation of the attack, wondering when the Board's campaign “games”, wasting and discouraging the public's time, would finally end. We sat through a 17-minute movie on bullying in schools. There might be a need for this and the kids that put it together did a great job. But it still doesn't negate the fact that this is not the place for this and it wastes a lot of time that could actually cause the Town Board meetings to end at a more reasonable hour, and maybe even be productive. I'd love to get out of there before midnight.

There was a hearing for the Cablevision contract that the Board, and apparently Francis Sheehan, had finally finished and was submitting it for review. The agenda was not posted online during the day so it put most of us a bit behind. I read the contract during the anti-bullying film. I apologize to the films creators, but as I was there for the Board meeting, not a film.

There were many points mentioned during the hearing. One of the more significant ones was that the Board is willing to enter into a fifteen year agreement with Cablevision. Fifteen years. My example to them was if they had purchased a new computer for the Town, it was already outdated. My point with the example, and with Cablevision, is that technology changes very quickly. Do we know, and for that matter does Cablevision know, what the technology will be in even five years? Probably not. Yet, they are willing to lock into an agreement that could wind up hurting the Town by being extended for this long a period. How about a five year contract with two five-year riders (or extensions) that allow the Town to renegotiate if warranted. The ground rules here are able to be set by the Board and they are clueless, choosing to pat each other on the back for a job well-done. Huh?

A representative for Cablevision spoke on his Company’s behalf. Then a representative for Verizon spoke about the contract, lambasting the parameters it and how disparate it was toward Verizon, the underdog, so to speak, against Cablevision. Wow. Underdog may be strong, but she picked this thing apart and made some very valid points. So much so, that the Cablevision representative got back up to counter her arguments.

Town Attorney Tim Lewis never said a word, which is typical. I have to wonder what purpose is served having him there? The Town Clerk, who is not there to speak, won't stop. And Paul rambling is added proof as to why we need to start and end sooner than they do. All of this does nothing except accentuate the incompetence on the Board. We have no captain, in inept crew and the ship is headed toward the waterfall with no one at the rudder. It's time this changes. Let's start this November.

Now What?

2010-11-29T15:48:00.002-05:00

The election is over and we've gone back to our "normal" lives, dealing with the day to day things that keep us going: family, work, bills, holidays, tragedy, happy moments and the like.

Many have congratulated me on a job well-done with my candidacy for NYS Assemblyman. The election, which I recognized as a tough one prior to running, was sort of fun while grueling at the same time. I always enjoyed speaking with people when I could and laughing at those who shouted at me. I remember one fellow in Greenburgh telling me we need to stop big oil. I told him here in NY, we don't have "big oil" at all. "Oh," was his response. Then I asked him what he did for a living and he said he was unemployed. I went on to tell him how I planned to help those like himself by helping business create jobs. When his wife exited the supermarket, he said he would think about voting for me. That was good.

In the end, I received 12K-plus votes of confidence and want to thank everyone who helped me and believed in me. While I never say never, now that I've paid the Board of Election fines, I doubt I'll be back as a candidate. It was disappointing to see "major" candidates get all the help and lose. While I received nothing from the Republican party, I like to imagine what could have been had I gotten some real assistance from them. The real trouble with the Republican Party is they think they need to work the "big seats", ignoring the "little", local ones. It's the other way around. They need to build a base of solid, small level performers with positive track records and slowly work them into the higher positions.

I'm not going away and will see you at a meeting...

Just Vote

2010-09-14T13:53:00.003-04:00

I just voted in the Election Primary this morning in the Town Hall on Hillside Avenue. There were no other voters there when I arrived. There were five people per table or "booth" to administer the voters. There's a new book to sign in, but still no way to verify I am who I say I am. That is a bigger issue to me than hanging chads, eye recognition and so on.

After signing in, one of the attendants said rather loudly, that I could not wear the t-shirt I had on in there. I intentionally wore it to see if someone would protest or just let it go. I offered to take it off.

Well, she wouldn't let it go. "Are you a democrat?" I asked politely. She turned away. Then she turned back and said again, "You can't wear that shirt in here." "Why not?" I asked. "Because you can't," was her clever retort. "It's political campaigning which is not allowed by law," said a second woman. "Are you also a democrat?" I asked her only to receive the parental/teacher stare we've all gotten when we were suspect of doing something wrong. "That doesn't matter," she responded, "you just can't wear it here." I told them that I am not a candidate in this primary so it shouldn't matter." To which I received folded arms by both and a "Hrrummp!" grunt from one. I was hoping they would harp on this discussion to see if MY first amendment rights would be violated. We didn't get that far. A male poll worker intervened and said the shirt appeared to be from an older campaign and is not a violation. Ooh, he must be a republican...

It always seems to be okay to invoke some irrelevant point when trying to stop a republican from saying or doing something. Those same people seem to continuously allow a democrat to "skate" when the shoe is on their foot. It's a sad state of affairs. Many have seemed to lose their moral compass from the smallest of issues to the largest. If the arguments are so weak or shallow that you must deflect from the real issue by masking with another, perhaps you should take an honest look at the logic. It's time to change from this tired model that served our multiracial president so well in Chicago but has no place in Westchester, New York, or America.

Back to what I hoped would be casting my vote. I had to take a marker, tied to a corrugated plastic table and mark off a rather large sheet of paper with my candidate choices to feed into the machine. I take issue with this as it ultimately removes my privacy of the act of voting for all to see as I walked across the floor to the automatic scanner, where I was instructed to feed my ballot. Everyone could see my votes if they were really interested. The other issues are the costs surrounding the process: the scanners need electricity to run, the lever-type machines did not; the large printed paper ballot must cost a fortune a) because anything governmentally purchased is usually overpaid for; and b) it was on a relatively high grade and weight of paper; required markers to actually cast your vote and finally, had a cash register type roll of paper to record each ballot cast. I was next required to feed the paper ballot into the scanner. I was told after the scanner took the page, that it keeps the ballots so if a recount were required, the count would be accurate. Wow, now I'm voting for recounts. How ridiculous.

Do some homework and study the candidates. Don't just study their party allegiance, but read about, talk to and engage them. Don't try to shout them down or shut them up. Hear what they offer and then try engaging them in a discussion if you disagree. Vote honestly based on what you've discussed with them. Maybe that means crossing party lines. Maybe it even means foregoing one of your beliefs to support another. This year, make you vote a good vote, not just a cursory one because a party faithful coerced you into voting the party line. Regardless, please just vote.

Thomas Bock is the endorsed candidate of the Republican and Conservative parties for the 92nd Assembly District seat. He can be reached at info@Bock2010. Visit his website at www.Bock2010.com or his blog at www.electtombock.blogspot.com. You can contribute to his campaign through his website and Pay Pal,

or by sending a check or money order to

Elect Tom Bock, PO Box 1098, 405 Tarrytown Road, White Plains, NY 10607.

Ground Zero Mosque

2010-09-02T11:49:00.000-04:00

As the debate continues over whether or not to allow the mosque at Ground Zero, it’s interesting to hear the reasons both pro and con. As an intelligent person, I agree that the pro-mosque supporters are correct that they have the right to build. I also feel that everyone who wants to build on their own property should be able to within the confines of their zoning and ordinance requirements. But having the right to do something and doing what's right are two completely different things.

As a 9-11 responder, however, I have a much different point of view. I’m being told to tolerate another religion and to be more tolerant of their feelings. But if I’m supposed to be more sensitive, why aren't these Muslims being tolerant and sensitive to my and other responders and victim’s desires? 9-11 was a bigger attack and trauma upon Americans than Pearl Harbor.

Examples have been given that it would not be illegal for Japan to erect a massive Shinto shrine near Pearl Harbor. Being a compassionate and understanding people, they have chosen not to. Why? Because they were sensitive to the feeling of area people and America in general. Similarly, when the Catholic Church was planning to build a center for nuns near the site of a former concentration camp in Poland, the Pope intervened. He didn’t tout the church’s “right” to build, but rather repected the painful feelings of the residents. And at no point did he try to denigrate these feelings.

There is no question that the Muslims involved here are not representative of all Muslims in America. Arguments have been made about hallowed ground, Ground Zero participation – the wheel assembly of one of the jets crashed into this building. These same arguments have been eagerly dismissed by others. Apparently, we are witnessing a moral decline of our values in America. And, having our President weigh in on such an obviously local issue, has highlighted that he, as well as others, is not the cause of our downward spiral, but rather the culmination of it.

I would ask the Muslim proponents of the Mosque to do the right thing and seek a different location for their facility. No one is arguing their legal rights. While this may be construed as a Sharia victory, to build a mosque on the land of the conquered enemy, I prefer to think that the congregation and their leaders will opt for another location. In fact, I would hope that other Muslims outside of their congregation would push for this as well.

Thomas Bock is the endorsed candidate of the Republican and Conservative parties for the 92nd Assembly District seat. He can be reached at info@Bock2010. Visit his website at www.Bock2010.com or his blog at www.electtombock.blogspot.com. You can contribute to his campaign through his website and Pay Pal,
or by sending a check or money order to
Elect Tom Bock, PO Box 1098, 405 Tarrytown Road, White Plains, NY 10607.

Constitutional Convention - Let's Not Do It

2010-09-02T10:50:00.000-04:00

In theory, a Constitutional Amendment is a great idea whose time is past due. In reality, however, the bastardization, partisanship and corruption of the process we currently face will make it impossible to get good, "clean", unencumbered representatives and the well-intentioned change we desire. It just won't work (& I do want it to). I'll explain.

In order for a constitutional convention or constitutional change to take place, the requisite representatives would need to be ELECTED. This requires campaigning. Campaigning is typically reliant upon money and exposure. I know this all too well as I am currently going through this as a candidate for the NYS Assembly (feel free to donate). There are no campaign finance laws that I'm aware of, anywhere in the US, to control the spending for this type of campaign. Consequently, special interest groups, corporations, current politicians, criminals, ex-cons, your wacko neighbor, etc., are able to run, spending unlimited amounts of money toward a campaign. And, anything goes, such as lying, incorrect information, and personal denigration and insults without recourse.

Based on the pathetic responses we see at every election, the "wrong" person could get elected for this historic event, based on the campaign spending and exposure a candidate gets. As an example of how bad things are, 700+ or so people voted my last school budget election (Not bad, huh? Well, there are over 10,000 eligible voters!). It's no wonder our schools taxes are the biggest chunk of our tax bills. BTW, this lack of campaign finance control applies to the local, state and federal levels of a constitutional convention with no proposals for a change seeking regulation. Once these people are elected, there is no way to oversight of them as they create changes. Or, more importantly, as they vote for changes that should be in the best interest of all of us all, as they are not going to be up for reelection.

The city of Yonkers has cleaned house with term limits and while it's true you can also lose good people, we are all suffering with the alternative. I'd rather lose a few good people than having to suffer with most of the people we keep getting stuck with. NYC Mayor Bloomberg also proved the point by "buying" a third term in a normally term-limited two-year term.

Our constitutions are good, solid, time-endured documents that are not living documents. When people say appointments for judgeships don't really matter to us, they don't. At least, they don't until the balance is upset. As we are slowly witnessing, many of the same liberal judges are legislating from the bench, ignoring the constitution. It is the same social engineering from the bench that we see with a one-party democratic-party driven system; and the republicans have not proven to be much better but at least offer hope and change - heh, where have I heard that before?

There is more to it than what I've laid out here, but this touches on the highlights of some of the negative possibilities. Since there is no way to control the campaigning and outcome of the election and the decisions made by those elected, there is really only one viable recourse: vote in our regular elections. More importantly, vote the incumbents, professional politicians out of office and support term limits.

We don't need a constitutional convention to change the status quo into something most people desire: a better government with less spending, less taxes, less bureaucracy, less waste and real representation, not social engineering. If everyone they know told five people, or even more, about good candidates and why they should vote for them, we'd be in a better place. Of course, it's also reliant on their getting out to vote.

It really is simple: Vote!

Thomas Bock is the endorsed candidate of the Republican and Conservative parties for the 92nd Assembly District seat. He can be reached at info@Bock2010. Visit his website at www.Bock2010.com or his blog at www.electtombock.blogspot.com. You can contribute to his campaign through his website and Pay Pal,
or by sending a check or money order to
Elect Tom Bock, PO Box 1098, 405 Tarrytown Road, White Plains, NY 10607.

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative: Cap and Tax

2010-09-01T16:00:00.002-04:00

Did you know New York already has “Cap & Trade” aka Cap and Tax? It is called the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative – or RGGI. How did this get by most of us, slipping under the radar? Even though “Cap & Trade” has been stalled at the federal level, the RGGI scheme has been up and running for two years right here. This “Cap & Trade” program has already cost ratepayers across New York and nine other Northeastern states over $660 MILLION! As your Assemblyman for the 92nd District, I will work to eliminate this additional taxing scheme and look to develop incentives for everyone to use less energy and more green energy products without further taxes.

This “Cap & Trade” energy tax will cost New Yorkers more jobs and continue to cause energy prices to skyrocket. This is just what we need, higher energy prices. The states are now the battleground for “Cap & Trade”. If we don’t stop it now it will spread to other states across the country, some of which are already poised to adopt their own regional “Cap & Trade” programs, and our country’s already battered economy will be severely damaged for years to come.

You can help to fight this in New York City on September 8 – the date of the next secretive RGGI auction. The RGGI "Cap and Trade scheme operates in secret - a clandestine operation where you and I are told we have no right to know who is trading. Nor do we know how much the RGGI bureaucrats are making on the backs of taxpayers. This is ridiculous! That’s why we need to fight this “Cap & Trade” scam now.

There is an opportunity to send a message to the RGGI bureaucrats and the rest of the nation that we will not stand for a job-killing “Cap & Trade” energy tax! Join the Protest for New York’s Cap & Trade Program - WHEN: Wednesday, September 8 at 11:00am  WHERE: RGGI Offices, 90 Church St., New York City.

New Jersey has already started a revolt and you can read about it by going here:

http://nonjcapandtrade.com/?page_id=23

What’s Left?

2010-09-01T15:57:00.002-04:00

New York's Legislature and Governor saddled New Yorkers with 243 new taxes and tax increases. It's time to stop this tax insanity. And, come the first of the year, we will be getting the tail-end of the tax double-whammy when the Bush Tax Cuts expire.

You may not be aware of what is happening with the Bush Tax Cuts, but they are set to expire as of the first of the year; all of them. Many in the media have tried to paint anything and everything that former President Bush did as bad. Was paying no taxes or less taxes bad? You’d think so by their accounts. In a nutshell, if the Bush Tax Cuts expire, everyone’s taxes will be increased by approximately 10%. It’s not going to matter that much for the wealthy. However, people who currently are in the lowest tax bracket, and/or pay no taxes, will now be paying at least 10% in taxes. This includes students, part-time workers and lower-skilled workers.

President Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid say they want to renew the Bush tax cuts, but only partially. Some leading economists say their plan is a sham and may cause a serious recession or even a depression. Three leading Senate Democrats are breaking from Obama's plan and have called for a full and complete renewal of the Bush tax cuts. Finally, some legislators have stopped drinking the KoolAid. Pelosi and Reid plan a congressional vote as early as September on the Bush tax cuts. I’m not holding my breath for them to do the right thing based on what I’ve seen from them so far.

The Bush tax cuts can be renewed, but millions of Americans must have their voices heard by the major media and most importantly, Congress. Let your voice be heard. Let’s preserve the Bush Tax Cuts.

or by sending a check or money order to

Elect Tom Bock, PO Box 1098, 405 Tarrytown Road, White Plains, NY 10607.

Let The Economy Fix Itself

2010-08-26T16:45:00.022-04:00

When we talk about the economy, and whether or not we are experiencing a recovery, it garners a range of responses. But if you follow the business media, you’ll notice that corporate profits are increasing. Companies are amassing cash and yet, the unemployment rate is still increasing. Evidently, these same companies, already used to doing more with less, are still not hiring. The Washington Post stated the recession refuses to go away. Why could that be? I'm not sure but the National Bureau of Economic Research confirmed our Great Recession is over. Hmm. Tell that to people still out of work.

Today, businesses replace equipment and inventory, but they are not hiring new workers. Advanced technology is the only investment companies are making. What can they accomplish by doing this you might wonder? They can replace more people and free them up to work on other projects. Typically, that would be considered progress. That is if new projects are being undertaken. But they’re not.

Increasing production and reinvesting in our businesses is what will help our economy recovery. The economy can fix itself if government would simply stop interfering with it and superficially co-opting it through phony stimulus packages. Last year’s trillion-dollar dose of government help infused into the coffers of companies too big to fail just wasn't enough. If we want a quick indicator as to what or when the economy is working, watch the retail sector. Retail demand is the most obvious barometer of how well the economy or confidence in it actually is.

Most business owners prefer tax cuts and a lessening of unreasonable regulations to help the businesses. While I agree with their opinion, there must be concurrent spending cuts or we’ll not accomplish a true stimulus and the deficit will just get worse. I had a colleague today ask me, “Okay, I agree with cuts. But now tell me what you’re going to cut and how is it going to impact me? What do I have to lose?” I explained that just the waste in budgets is a good place to start and the abuse in our social services sector would be the next waste-ridden place to go after. Then there’s the Wick’s Law mandates that are costing government projects one-third more in costs and regulations. One example in the Town of Greenburgh is a fifty-foot section of sidewalk that is being put in for a cost of $238,000. Wow!

Our economy is not recovering, unemployment nationally/NY is stuck around 18/10 percent respectively and if we just got government out of the way, left the economy alone, it would correct itself. In short order, the clouds would part, angels would sing and businesses would start spending their profits, reinvesting in themselves, taking on new projects and most importantly for New Yorkers, begin hiring again. But that’s not happening. The economy is not being left alone. The rules from the top are unintelligible and unpredictable. When New Yorkers, as employees, are potential threats because of Labor Department regulations, businesses have little confidence to hire. Our governor and more importantly, our legislature have mirrored the actions of our President and saddled our entrepreneurs and businesses with a larger burden via taxes and regulations. They are now being forced to carry the big companies that we deemed to big to fail. So, what are we doing for them?

Three arenas: health insurance, financial regulation and impending new taxes have taken the wind out of any economic “sail” that had any chance of working. The 2,300 page Dodd-Frank finance regulatory act contains 243 new formal rule-makings by eleven various federal agencies. Social Security and Medicare are teetering precariously. There’s talk of a value-added tax in addition to all of our other taxes. C’mon! All of this only increases a businesses vulnerability to government. It freezes business in a place that forces them to become a bigger and bigger loser the longer they stay in New York. Government should get out of the way or they will have the opposite affect on the economy, stimulating a gray or underground economy. And what then of jobs? What then of taxes and revenue? In short, investors face a regime of uncertainty to an extent that few have experienced in this country. Uncertainty, created by Obama's legislative "successes", perpetuated by Albany, can only be compared to the Depression and World War II. We are quickly about to surpass Greece's economic failures. It must change!

I need your vote on November 2nd. Help me change Westchester and ultimately improve New York. It’s time to make New York the Empire State again. Let’s Invent Tomorrow!

Government Just Keeps Failing

2010-08-11T14:18:00.000-04:00

This should be read and understood by Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Socialists

and everyone who believes government, especially big government is the answer.

The U.S. Post Service was established in 1775. After 234 years to get it right, it is BROKE!

Social Security was established in 1935. After 74 years to get it right, it is BROKE!

Fannie Mae was established in 1938. After 71 years to get it right, it is BROKE!

War on Poverty started in 1964. After 45 years to get it right; trillion of dollars of our money is confiscated each year and transferred to "the poor" and it hasn’t worked.

Medicare and Medicaid were established in 1965. After 44 years to get it right, they are BROKE!

Freddie Mac was established in 1970. After 39 years to get it right, it is BROKE!

The Department of Energy was created in 1977 to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. It has ballooned to 16,000 employees with a budget of $24 billion a year and we import more oil than ever before. After 32 years to get it right, it is an abysmal FAILURE.

Government has FAILED in every "government service" they have shoved down our throats while overspending our tax dollars on member items, special interests and themselves.

Americans know government cannot be trusted to run anything, especially a health care system like the one recently passed and being forced upon us. We should vote to "opt-out" of government run health care.

Thanks to Todd Nelson for sharing this with me.

Remarkable Arrogance - Let's Invent Tomorrow!

2010-08-05T15:05:00.000-04:00

Have you noticed our elected officials know what's better for us than we do? Are you tired and disgusted about being marginalized? I am. Here's one example at the federal level.

This past Tuesday saw Missourians overwhelmingly vote and pass a measure, exempting residents from President Obama’s costly health care law mandate. On Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, flatly dismissed the pelucid message from 667,000 Missourians. When he was asked what it means that voters in Missouri would vote against the federal mandate, Mr. Gibbs said: “Nothing.”

Many of us find this kind of condescension and political deafness from the Obama administration not only unbelievable, but insulting. Even though the White House has shown a blatant disregard for the votes cast by Missourians as ‘nothing’, it shows just how out-of-touch the Obama Administration and Democrats are with average Americans.

I am running for NY State Assembly because I am tired of being marginalized and dismissed because I am too something-or-another or not important enough to be a loud-enough voice (read: vote). I am tired of our politicians finding new ways to spend the precious monies I’m forced to relinquish via taxes (a different sort of ‘gun’). Help me Invent Tomorrow!

I need your financial support as well as your votes. There are two democratic challengers who must primary or exhaust each other until one of them quits. Regardless, they have both bragged that they each have the luxury of spending $100k on this campaign. This doesn’t sound like the kind of people who can feel the pain of anyone in our state who is suffering.

I’m an average guy with a small home in Greenburgh. Greenburgh has seen double-digit tax increases for a long time. It’s time for this to stop before the only people left are my democratic opponents and their rich friends and the social services supported poor. Help me change the way New York is run. Many people say they wish they could vote for somebody good for a change. Well, that time is upon us. I will be good in and for Albany, and I will be good for you! Let’s Invent Tomorrow!

www.Bock2010.com

info@Bock2010.com

ElectTomBock

PO Box 1098

405 Tarrytown Road

White Plains, NY 10607

Let’s Invent Tomorrow!

2010-07-17T11:47:00.004-04:00

We know that many politicians pander to their constituents. It’s not limited to only one party. I can point a finger toward many politicians and know I'm correct about their pandering. The one thing we continually hear from many of the current administrations from the local to the federal levels is the need for a stimulus package to create jobs. It’s a concept that seems on target. But is this what we really need or are they pandering?

I don’t believe the previous stimulus packages have had the desired effect. “Real” jobs have not been created, because “real” jobs have staying power. Every locale would be happy to have jobs, but those developed through these pork-laden packages cannot sustain a family, much less have the necessary payoff needed to grow a community. Often, not only do the positions created have little value in terms of a community return, but they are awarded to select people who may not truly be in need. An example of one such job is a music director for one community. Huh?

Other examples of a few grants that are available are 1) $2 million to retrofit or replace 575 diesel engines on public vehicles. The “goal”, which I interpret as an excuse, is to reduce emissions. What vehicles qualify and by when does it need to be completed, if ever? 2) $662k to rehabilitate and paint the steel gates of dams. Which ones? What is the criteria? Shouldn’t the requisite maintenance for these already have been budgeted? 3) And finally, $25k to hire a music director. Just one? Let’s all sing along… Later, we can have a group hug! It’s pandering at it’s best and worst!

The real question is whether or not this type of spending will actually stimulate the economy or is simply more pork? Contrary to what we’re always told, there is no long-term growth with these expenditures, only a very short term and limited impact. And, its not that the efforts won’t accomplish anything, but like any position that is created with federal monies, once the funding runs out, it’s up to the locale to fund the position or let it expire. These types of pork are a fleeting, feel-good, Three-Card-Monty type of shell game. They do not drive the creation of new and or additional jobs. Small business does. Keynesianism simply won’t work as it is continually forced upon us. We should abandon it completely!

Many who support the Keynesian model believe government can better spend our money than we can. Those in government who like this model believe big government can allocate massive sums of money toward their pet projects and the special interest groups they’ve relied on for votes. Only it doesn’t work. For instance, when a union backs a candidate, they typically make a donation to “their” candidates campaign with members’ money and then they “own” the candidate. All of the candidates will say that they are beholden to no group and will act in a fair and even-handed way when it becomes time to vote for against their donors issue. That’s crap!

Depending on which set of figures you prefer to believe, unemployment is at either about 10% or 18%. I tend to believe the 18% number because there are many unemployed who have given up looking for a job. Yes, there are jobs out there but they’re not being advertised as readily because businesses are afraid to commit to hiring people because of the uncertainty around us, mostly in the form of tax increases. We have issues in the Middle East with Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel, Al Qaeda, Hamas and more. We have a health care bill that promises to cost businesses more than they can afford. It whittles away at private options and pushes a public option. It’s loaded with pork, and waste promises to be rampant. Unemployment insurance has risen, numerous other costs to business have increased, fuel costs are constantly rising and gasoline has creeped over the $3 mark and promises to be back up to $4+/gallon shortly. Property taxes are rising, seniors are leaving, our kids are going out of state to school and can’t afford to come back, even with college degrees. And these aren’t fluff degrees like those of philosophy and archeology. Trickle-down bureaucracy doesn’t work. Jobs work!

Help me fix Albany. Help me fix New York. Dare to change the way you’ve been thinking and what you’ve been doing. It hasn’t been working for a long time. Out of control government spending, record high deficits, an ever-growing federal debt, increased welfare spending cannot produce an economic boon. It’s time to think differently. Let’s Invent Tomorrow!

I pledge to work toward lowering taxes for businesses and individuals. I pledge to work toward having our seniors be able to afford to live here on their fixed income and still be able to splurge once in a while. I pledge to work toward having our kids be able to live here when they come back after college. I pledge to work toward closing the budget gaps and having a balanced, on-time budget. We need some grown-ups in Albany! I don’t want to be elected and then stay there forever. Richard Brodsky was in office for 28 years! Tom Abinanti is in office for 20 years! Haven’t we had enough of these kinds of politicians? I think it’s time we dare to change Albany; for Westchester’s sake. Expect more! Let’s Invent Tomorrow!

www.Bock2010.com

www.ElectTomBock.blogspot.com

info@Bock2010.com

Immigration: Semantics or Support and Defend

2010-05-12T09:59:00.001-04:00

As a Native American, but not an American Indian Native American, I am offended by the assault on
my country by the illegal aliens that are here in violation, disregard and contempt of our laws and sovereignty. I applaud the recent change in the Arizona law that added a layer of state penalties to what already exists under federal law. I only wish our own New York State legislators had the backbone to follow suit. They don’t and it’s one reason I’m running for the assembly seat. Arizona’s was a desperate cry for help from the federal government that was and is still being ignored. None other than our president is leading the brouhaha that some politicians have falsely created over this new legal update. This is no different than when he made the comment that Boston Police Officers were stupid because they arrested the professor for breaking into his own house when he refused their request for identification.

Our politicians, other leaders and even foreigners who are simply publicity whores are not acting in the
best interest of our country. By the way, I’m not looking to insult prostitutes when I mention whores, whose chosen profession, in most places, is also illegal. But the question remains, why are our politicians being so dishonest and so openly anti-America? Could it be, as some have suggested, that once these illegal aliens are given what Congressional candidate Jim Russell has coined as “Obamnesty”, they will shortly thereafter receive driver’s licenses, along with the ability to vote? I believe the answer is, “Yes!” Once they can vote, they will assuredly drift toward voting for Democratic Party candidates, whose leadership validated the illegal actions to permit the “Obamnesty”.

When a politician takes office, they swear an oath to that office. Here is the complete text for any number of federal offices, and I have made “bold” what I believe relevant to this argument: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.” In New York, it is slightly
different: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the constitution of the United States, and the
constitution of the State of New York, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of (position), according to the best of my ability.”

I find it interesting that while Arizona’s pleas for help went unheeded, everyone at the federal level turned a blind eye to the crime, gangs and kidnappings that were running rampant for over a decades’ time near the border and beyond. Following the exact tenets put forth under the Constitution of the United States, Arizona legislators followed to the letter, the oaths they swore to uphold when assuming office. A fact largely dismissed by “pro-illegals” advocates is that when an American travels legally to a foreign country, they are required to carry identification and provide it when requested by the authorities. This being the case, should this not be a requirement of the global citizenry the president is so desperate to reduce our country to? So Mr. President, since you are no longer a community organizer, and in fact

our president, how about acting presidential? Start securing our borders, bring deportation proceedings against those people who are here illegally and then you can criticize Arizona.

The violations of trust and respect for our country has been a long, on-going issue that won’t be resolved overnight. The president didn’t create what is going on but he is certainly exacerbating it. Arizonians, tired of being ignored by a system of corrupt individuals who are running our government into the ground, took action. Like a schoolyard of spoiled brats who complained to the teacher when they were finally exposed, they tried to spin the truth into something it wasn’t.

Finally, what a welcome relief to see legislators with “a set” who are willing to take action and do the right thing for their constituents! Here’s a link to read the actual law. You’ll be able to see that nowhere in the law is the scenario the president so wrongfully touts about getting arrested while buying your kids ice cream because you don’t have your wallet with your ID. Please, read it for yourself:
h t t p : / / w w w. a z l e g . g o v /l e g t e x t / 4 9 l e g / 2 r / b i l l s /sb1070s.pdf

One more interesting bill that Arizona is proposing, and it’s been largely ignored by the lamestream media, as well, is their House Bill 2281, which amends Section 15-843 of Arizona Revised Statutes relating to School Curriculum. It prohibits a school district or charter school from including courses or classes that either promote the overthrow of the United States government or promote resentment toward a race or class of people, as well as banning ethnic studies and promoting equality. Wow! I’m liking these guys more and more.

Thomas Bock, a Systems Administrator, is a candidate for the 92nd New York State Assembly in Albany. He is a life-long resident of Elmsford/Town of Greenburgh and a 37-year member and former Chief of the Elmsford Fire Department. You can read more on ElectTomBock. com; ElectTomBock.blogspot.com and can reach him by directing email to ElectTomBock@gmail.com.

Why I'm a Candidate for New York State Assembly-92nd District

2010-05-07T14:12:00.003-04:00

My name is Tom Bock, and I live in the Fulton Park neighborhood in the Town of Greenburgh, NY. I was just asked again to describe myself and thought I should re-post a little bit about me. I did a similar post when I was running for County Legislator. So, here goes...

I am a life-long Greenburgh resident and when I got married, twenty-two years ago, I moved to Fulton Park with my wife, Sue. We had the dreams that most young couples have when they are starting out and began to plan our future. We worked non-stop on our fix-er-upper house for a year, slowly making it nicer for us. It's still not done. Many projects have been put on hold as we continue to subsidize the local, state and federal governments more and more. My son, Cameron, now 18 years old, is quite an accomplished musician and hopes to pursue his education in music, following in the footsteps of his teacher and mentor, my dad, John. My parents still live in Greenburgh as well.

I've been a volunteer firefighter in the Elmsford F.D., for 37 years and am still active in firefighting, technical rescue and hazardous materials responses. In 1989 and 1990 I served as the Chief of the department. On a County level, I have been a member of the Westchester County Hazardous Materials Response Team and am a co-founder of the Westchester County Technical Rescue Team. Both of these teams are all-volunteer and serve to protect the entire County and it's guests. I am a director on both the Westchester County Association of Fire Chiefs and the Westchester County Volunteer Firefighter's Association.

When Hurricane Katrina struck, I organized a one-weekend fund-raising drive through the fire service and the Chiefs' Association. We raised and distributed over $180,000 to the emergency services in the Harrison Fire District in Mississippi. I also helped coordinate a delivery of $35k in Christmas gifts to this same Gulf region with our great corporate neighbor, Modell's Sporting Goods.

I am also proud to be a founding Board member for the Just Imagine Making Miracles Yours (J.I.M.M.Y.) Foundation, of Somers, NY, helping terminally and seriously ill children and their families. I have also been involved with the Burn Center at the Westchester County Medical Center.

I responded with many of my fire service colleagues to NYC when we were attacked on September 11, 2001. As a result of my involvement in the fire service, I was asked to participate on the (volunteer) Westchester County Weapons of Mass Destruction Planning Committee and the Special Operations Oversight Committee. These very important organizations work to help Westchester's residents and guests be safe and be prepared for many types of emergencies that we never dreamed of before 9-11.

Like most of you, I am disgusted with the exorbitant tax increases we've been punished with over the years. We have seen patronage positions given out without regard to need, expertise, or expense. The abuses and waste are pervasive and needs to be stopped! I want to work to end these abuses, reduce the size of government and return accountability and responsibility to the people of New York! I will do my best to help bring business and jobs to New York, reduce taxes for individuals and business and revamp the never-ending drain of subsidized housing that helps developers profit and keeps individuals from owning their own home, whether it's a co-op, condo or house.

I'm running in this election for New York State Assembly 92nd District to try and take back control of our Albany government. I am not a career politician. Richard Brodsky, who is a career politician, has been there for years and I believe is part of the Albany debacle. In fact, I never considered running for a full-time position for anything until Albany began the relentless tax assault upon us. Albany should treat our neighborhoods, the fabric of our society, with respect. That hasn't happened in years!

I can't sit back and hope others will step up and do something. I am stepping up to the challenges we face and will work to represent all the neighborhoods in the 92nd District, which includes Greenburgh, Mount Pleasant, White Plains, and Yonkers. I don't have every answer for every issue. My opponents will and they will be very slick ones at that.

If you feel your voice has been ignored, if you are tired of being abused and if you want to see honesty and accountability in New York's Government, help me to help us fight back. Join my campaign to help and vote for me.

Together we can make a difference.

Thank you.

Tom

--
----------------------------------------------------
Rejuvenating Good Government!

Tom Bock
ElectTomBock.com
email: ElectTomBock@gmail.com
264 Old Kensico Road
(Greenburgh)
White Plains, NY 10607
914-437-2635

Government Salt - We Can Do Better!

2010-04-28T11:24:00.004-04:00

Recently, in practically every facet of the news media, a serious and life threatening issue has been brought to light. You may be thinking that some group has been discriminated against, or performing more abortions or even workplace deaths! Nope. It’s that Americans in general, and New Yorkers specifically, here it comes: eat too much salt! OMG! Too much salt. How did that happen? Who was in charge here? Can we enact a law to limit salt content? C'mon, let's go people. Let's get a microphone and stick it in front of Chuck Schumer to hear what he has to say.

Okay, hold on just a second. You might not be able to tell, but I'm being facetious here. Not only do I think this salt intake issue has gotten out of hand, the media is covering it like a plane crash of school children going to help aids victims. Not only is this not a big deal, who cares how much salt I eat? Sure, you can argue that salt is not good for you in general and that too much salt is unhealthy. So? Smoking is no good for you but the government doesn't tell you how many cigarettes to smoke. Although, I am more than a little fearful that that might be next.

The first issue I have with the government's role is that government is supposed to protect its citizens. That's the primary responsibility of government. I always believed that meant on a federal level to keep America from being attacked from our enemies. To that end, I disagree with the President's nuclear disarmament plan, especially with the ever-growing list of crackpots getting more and more nuclear weaponry. And, I'm not even talking about how the panty-bomber was able to get on an airplane and then failed, thankfully, to blow it up, only burning his groin. While I cringe even thinking about that, how embarrassing will that be for him when he gets to prison?

The second issue then, is how much protection should our government render and to what extent? At the state and local levels I believe government should make sure we are safe and reasonably protected in our neighborhoods and homes. So when government officials, unable to pass new laws because we already have more than enough, begin to harp on superfluous things like my salt intake, I get mad! Instead of worrying about displaying calories on menus for overweight people in fast food restaurants, where they shouldn’t be anyway; instead of worrying if I am wearing a bicycle helmet when cycling (not to be confused with motorcycling helmets); instead of worrying about whether or not a hair-stylist trims my beard (it is actually against the law), how about focusing on some real issues that might not get a TV camera to focus on you.

How about securing our borders? How about eliminating wasteful social programs and reducing my taxes and focusing on performance of basic services and a diminution of the less essential services? How about a tax moratorium on new businesses and businesses moving to NY State? How about simply making NY State more business friendly? How about giving tangible financial breaks and incentives to people who volunteer their time to help others and their communities? How about term limits? How about a ceiling on how much a state employee can make in their position in overtime? How about a use it or lose policy with regards to state employee vacation and sick time? How about doing away with the unfunded mandates that are crippling our villages, towns and cities? How about a NY State Constitutional amendment to ensure a balanced, on-time budget before taxes can be raised?

If these questions make sense to you, I ask you to vote for me this November for New York State Assembly - 92nd District. The seat is currently held by Richard Brodsky. He's been there so long, I can't even tell you who was there before him! It's time for a change and to clean house. It's time to take back New York from the politicians and special interests and give it back to the people! Help me to make the Empire State great again!

Can "Needless" Lowey Be Beaten?

2010-04-15T11:52:00.001-04:00

I believe the answer is finally, yes! I received a mailing from her, probably the groundwork for other, future mailings as we approach the November Elections, where she claims she is lowering taxes for Westchester residents. Wow! It's an amazing piece of (false) advertising. If she keeps saying it enough, eventually even she will be able to believe it. But you shouldn't. She is one of the premier tax-and-spend representatives we have.

The Republicans should be able to pick up a few political seats this November. Previous elections have been in favor of the Democrats. It's proven counter-productive, removing balance and proportionality from the creation of law and the tax-and-spend part of responsible and responsive government. We see this in many cities, towns and villages. My first hand account of a one-party debacle in high gear is the Town of Greenburgh. To read more, go to: ABetterGreenburgh.blogspot.com.

The Republican field of candidates hoping to defeat "Needless" Lowey has been huge. The order of appearance at the first Forum held for these potential challengers was Alexander Block, Mark Rosen, Patrick Whalen, Jim Russell, Paul Wasserman, and Patrick Gillespie. During the forum, Patrick Whalen surprised everyone when he announced at the end of his half hour speech that his "advisors" recommended it wasn't the right time for him, so he dropped out. You're killing me Pat - why wait so long and drag this out if you plan to quit?Since then, Mark Rosen also dropped out siting his possible military reserve recall. Of the current batch of candidates, the only two viable candidates seem to be Jim Russell and Paul Wasserman.

I think Rosen may have seen the race as too difficult even though he seemed to have the unofficial backing of the Westchester Republican party. They circled the wagons and dismissed the other candidates. It was evident at the forum held in Hastings. When Rosen spoke, they were all in the room, then half the room disappeared when the others spoke. Even if the deal was done, shouldn't the party faithful have given the courtesy of listening to all the candidates? Certainly.

When Russell and Wasserman spoke, they spoke of issues. And, Russell had more of a tangible command of the issues. The republicans should back Russell. But, they'll probably go with Wasserman, the former democrat-now-turned-republican, because he has money and can raise more. Russell doesn't have that going for him. They never ask what someone brings to the party and what the party can do for them, only how much money they have. That's a sad commentary on our political process, regardless of party.

In the end, between T.E.A. party-goers, frustrated Americans, dishonest politicians, politicians who beat their wives and so much more, it's time for Albany to get some real change, positive role models and a tax system that offers not only to take huge amounts of your money, but to use it wisely.

THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER

2010-02-28T18:16:00.000-05:00

THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER

This one is a little different......

Two Different Versions....

Two Different Morals

OLD VERSION

The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.

Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed.

The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.

MORAL OF THE STORY:

Be responsible for yourself!

MODERN VERSION

The ant works hard in the withering heat and the rain all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.

Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while he is cold and starving.

CBS, NBC , PBS, CNN, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food.

America is stunned by the sharp contrast.

How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?

Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper and everybody cries when they sing, 'It's Not Easy Being Green...'

ACORN stages a demonstration in front of the aunt’s house where the news stations film the group singing, “We shall overcome.” Then Rev. Jeremiah Wright has the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper's sake.

President Obama condemns the ant and blames President Bush, President Reagan, Christopher Columbus, and the Pope for the grasshopper's plight.

Nancy Pelosi & Harry Reid exclaim in an interview with Larry King that the ant has gotten rich off the back of thegrasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his fair share.

Finally, the EEOC drafts the Economic Equity & Anti-Grasshopper Act retroactive to the beginning of the summer.

The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green bugs and, having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the Government Green Czar and given to the grasshopper.

The story ends as we see the grasshopper and his free-loading friends finishing up the last bits of the ant’s food while the government house he is in, which, as you recall, just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around them because thegrasshopper doesn’t maintain it.

The ant has disappeared in the snow, never to be seen again.

The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident, and the house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize the ramshackle, once prosperous and once peaceful, neighborhood.

The entire Nation collapses, bringing the rest of the free world with it.

MORAL OF THE STORY:

Be careful how you vote in 2010.

I’ve sent this to you because I believe that you are an ant, not a grasshopper! Make sure that you pass this on to otherants.

Don’t bother sending it on to any grasshoppers because they wouldn’t understand it, anyway.

President Promises Hope & Change, Castelli Delivers with 89th District Special Election Win

2010-02-10T15:17:00.024-05:00

With a victory of 55% to 45% over his challenger, Republican State Assemblyman-elect Robert “Bob” Castelli proved that his message and exorbitant taxes are more important than his Democratic opponent Peter Harckham’s rhetoric. In a phone conversation with Bob early this morning, he told me he was anxious to get to Albany to get to work, but didn’t know what the time table was for his swearing-in and “seating” in Albany. He also hoped to be able to thank his supporters and those who helped in with his campaign in short time.

Bob Castelli has been a dedicated public servant, as a Vietnam veteran who, after a distinguished 21-year career in the New York State Police, received his graduate degree in public administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Bob uses his experience to help shape the future leaders of our government as a college professor. He is a small businessman, operating a security consulting business where he provides expert advice and commentary to television and print media on criminal justice and homeland security matters. He is a former Lewisboro Councilman, and was chair of the Public Safety and Emergency Services Committees of County Executive Rob Astorino's transition team. Bob is the father of two sons: Christian, a Lt. Colonel in the United States Army Special Forces, and also a graduate of the Kennedy School, and Paul, an ordained Minister, serving a congregation in southern Florida.

Harckham, who had won the November reelection of his county legislative seat, was thought to be disingenuous with his run for county legislator and by ignoring his constituent’s trust running for another office, with ultimately nothing to lose. We’ve seen this same scenario before with Thomas Abinanti, also a Westchester County legislator who fell back to his “safe” county position after being similarly defeated. One more County Legislator, Mike Kaplowitz, is currently pursuing a comparable move. Harckham, has been a county legislator since 2007, and served on six county legislative committees this past term. The lowest amount of additional money paid to a committee member is $3,000. Multiply this amount by his six committees and he made at least an additional $18,000 on top of his $49,000 yearly salary for a part-time job. In these tough times, maybe he and his colleagues should forego their extra salary perks for simply doing their part-time job.

If the electorate is truly fed up with the shenanigans of our legislators, Bob Castelli’s victory, right after Rob Astorino’s in Westchester and Scott Brown’s in Massachusetts, may be a sign of the hope and change President Obama promised during his campaign. Both candidates sold themselves as outsiders whose main goal was to reform Albany's dysfunctional operations. Interestingly, at a forum held in Chappaqua with Castelli and Harckham, both men discussed the reforms they planned to initiate if elected. Apparently, the electorate could not get past Harckham’s contradictory claims of being a reformer and in the forefront of the uncontrollable and über-bloated Spano administration.

The record setting snowstorm that just ended may delay Bob Castelli’s getting to Albany by a day or two. Hopefully, that will be the only delay in the beginning of a new era of reform in Albany. God knows we're ready!

Help Lower Oil Dependency & Prices

2010-01-18T18:42:00.000-05:00

Gas rationing in the 70's worked even though we grumbled about it. It might even have been good for us!

The Saudi's are boycotting American products and yet we continue to buy their oil. They are gouging us ans we continue to purchase gasoline from them at alarming rates.

Shouldn't we return the favor? Can't we take control of our own destiny and let these giant oil importers know who REALLY generates their profits, their livings? How about leaving American Dollars in America and reduce the import/export deficit?

An appealing remedy might be to boycott their GAS. Every time you fill up your car you can avoid putting more money into the coffers of Saudi Arabia . Just purchase gas from companies that do not import from the Saudis.

Nothing is more frustrating than the feeling that every time I fill up my tank, I'm sending my money to people who want me, my family and my friends dead.

The following gas companies import Middle Eastern oil:

Shell: 205,742,000 barrels
Chevron/Texaco: 144,332,000 barrels
Exxon /Mobil: 130,082,000 barrels
Marathon/Speedway: 117,740,000 barrels
Amoco: 62,231,000 barrels

And CITGO oil is imported from Venezuela by Dictator Hugo Chavez who hates America and openly avows our economic destruction! (We pay Chavez's regime nearly $10 Billion per year in oil revenues!)

The U.S. currently imports 5,517,000 barrels of crude oil per day from OPEC. If you do the math at $100 per barrel, that's over $550 million PER DAY ($200 BILLION per year!) handed over to OPEC, many of whose members are our confirmed enemies!!!!! It won't stop here - oil prices could go to $200 a barrel or higher if we keep buying their product.

Here are some large companies that do not import Middle Eastern oil:

Sunoco: 0 barrels
Conoco: 0 barrels
0ASinclair: 0 barrels
BP / Phillips: 0 barrels
Hess: 0 barrels
ARC0: 0 barrels
Maverick: 0 barrels
Flying J: 0 barrels
Valero: 0 barrels
Murphy Oil USA *: 0 barrels
*Sold at Wal-Mart , gas is from South Arkansas and fully USA owned and produced.
*Not only that but they give scholarships to all children in their town who finish high school and are legal US citizens.

All of this information is available from the U.S. Department of Energy and each company is required to state where they get their oil and how much they are importing.

But to have a real impact, we need to reach literally millions of gas buyers With the help of the internet, it's really simple to do. Now, don't wimp out at this point....keep reading and I'll explain how simple it is to reach millions of people!!

I'm sending this note to about thirty people. If each of you send it to at only ten more (30 x 10 = 300)....and those 300 send it to at least ten more (300 x 10 = 3,000)....and so on, by the time the message reaches the sixth generation of people, we will have reached over THREE MILLION consumers!!!!!!!

545 People vs. 300,000,000 Americans

2009-12-31T18:23:00.000-05:00

Everyone should read what Charlie Reese has written, pass it on, discuss it with friends and really think about our current political debacle. Charley Reese has been a journalist for 49 years.

545 PEOPLE
By Charlie Reese

Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.

Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?

Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?

You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does.

You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.

You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.

You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.

You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.

One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.

I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.

I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason.. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.

Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits.. The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.

The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? Nancy Pelosi. She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.

It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million can not replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.

If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red ..

If the Army &Marines are in IRAQ , it's because they want them in IRAQ

If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.

There are no insoluble government problems.

Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.

Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.

They, and they alone, have the power.

They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses.

Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees, we should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!

Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.

What you do with this article now that you have read it........... Is up to you.

This might be funny if it weren't so darned true.
Be sure to read all the way to the end:

Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table
At which he's fed.

Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.

Tax his work,
Tax his pay,
He works for peanuts
Anyway!

Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.

Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.

Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries
Tax his tears.

Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
To tax his ass.

Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
Till he has no dough.

When he screams and hollers;
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till
He's good and sore.
Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he's laid.

Put these words
Upon his tomb,
Taxes drove me
to my doom...'

When he's gone,
Do not relax,
Its time to apply
The inheritance tax.

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75 cents per gallon)
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge T ax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Sales Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Ser vice FeeTax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax

STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY? Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What in the hell happened? Can you spell 'politicians?'
And I still have to 'press 1' for English!?

I hope this goes around THE USA at least 100 times!!! YOU can help it get there!!!
GO AHEAD - - - BE AN AMERICAN!!!

Who Really Spoke and Who Just Mumbled?

2009-11-05T09:05:00.009-05:00

Well, the election is over and Alfreda Williams won. Congratulations to her. They had everything on their side, including money (Lois Bronz's campaign war chest), Lois Bronz's mailing and support lists, but mostly pure democratic volume over other parties. Once she began to play the race card, she was able to capture the majority of the vote of color. She agreed with the democratic incumbents decision to do-nothing and simply let the numbers roll her into office. The incumbent legislature which voted to settle on the Housing Desegregation Lawsuit, was a torch she carried throughout the campaign as though she had voted for it herself.

The democrats who came out to vote certainly helped her win. I accepted that outcome when I began the campaign and even now that it's over. I'm disappointed to lose but not bitter or upset. I ran a great campaign on the issues, something she still has little, if any, knowledge of. In fact, her victory will allow her to go back to the laissez-faire mentality practiced by her predecessor and ignore not only the issues of the district and county, but sadly and more importantly, the people that have been continually ignored for years.

If you look at the numbers, it was democratic voters who simply, simplistically, and as uninformed and uneducated voters, voted across the party line. Shame on them. Not because I didn't win, but because they blindly follow their leaders without thinking, questioning or trying. I'm not saying we are there, but this is how most dictatorships begin. Just look at Italy, Germany and the others in the 30's and 40's, and now in the middle east. Blindly following is costing us in more ways than financial but that is the most significant problem with following and not thinking. I'm reminded of my parents old adage, "If so-and-so walked off a cliff, would you follow them?"

So how did, or will District 8 win from this election? It remains to be seen. To paraphrase Lois Bronz, she said she was happy Alfreda was able to get up to speed on the issues so quickly. This highlights just how out of touch she is. She didn't win because she was involved or knowledgeable. She was the heir apparent from a legislator who ignored her constituency throughout the district. The only people she did anything for was the Fairview section of Greenburgh. How sad a commentary that we go from one poor representative to another.

In spite of all of this, I wish Alfreda and the constituents of District 8 well. But with Alfreda and her ilk in power, it should prove to be a nightmare. Perhaps Rob Astorino, and the other Republican legislators can make a dent and begin turning around our county. The people began to speak in this election and I believe they will be even louder in the next one. I know I will be.

We Must Stop Overdevelopment

2009-09-18T11:23:00.003-04:00

In many of our local neighborhoods, and in a broad sense throughout Westchester, we have seen the darkest side of development, human behavior, greed and social engineering run amuck. For example, in the Town of Greenburgh, we've witnessed uncontrolled development with the "sanction" by all the subordinate departments following Paul Feiner's misguided statist lead toward subsidized housing.

In fact, the Greenburgh Planning Board prejudiciously closed the public hearing as a proliferation of questions of the project site plan at 22 Tarrytown Road abound. Several people in the audience objected vehemently when Planning chairwoman Mclaughlin ignored their and several board members' pleas to hold the hearing open, insisting and receiving a motion to close the hearing at breakneck speed. Mclaughlin, whose strings are ostensibly dragged by Supervisor Feiner, could not seem to move fast enough to ignore the objections of so many and hand the silver platter to the developer! I don't know why she continues so anxiously to please the King and his “court” as he and his jesters have already disregarded the Planning Board's recommendation to not change the zoning for this property and then changed it right after reading the recommendation letter openly at a Board meeting. This charade must stop!

In Tarrytown we're witnessing the over-saturation of one of the most beautiful and significant waterfront areas in Westchester with immensely scaled condominiums. To the best of my knowledge, they are expensive; and many units remain vacant. Sleepy Hollow is wrestling with it's own demons as their waterfront property has had a bulls-eye placed on it by developers and their superstructure schemes slowly evolve into more than the area can handle. Why are we allowing developers such a free rein? Many suggest if we don't, then they will leave and build elsewhere. Okay, does that mean there is only one developer in Westchester and we should feel honored that they are here? I don't think so.

Another question is why were none of the housing units there designated as affordable or low income housing A.K.A. subsidized housing? Perhaps because the Village a) didn't think of it; b) thought of it and knew it would devalue the rest of the area they are trying to improve; c) realized that the housing that doesn't get sold might be rented and become Section 8 voucher housing or d) did not want the crime that follows so many of these lower socio-economic renters. Maybe there is an “e, f, g” and more.

There was a study that was conducted recently in Memphis, Tennessee that tracks Section 8 housing, it's voucher participants and the crime that travels with them. In what the study calls the “rabbit ears” affect, when you overlay the high crime areas on top of the Section 8 housing, now located in the suburbs from the inner city, it's the “rabbit ear” exact match! Crime is proven to go up commensurate with Section 8 housing. But that doesn’t mean let’s simple do away with Section 8 housing. Of course there are valid reasons to support some of it.

Just because there is a parcel of land without a building on it, doesn't mean we must build something on it and maximize its use with an out-of-character, over-sized building placed on it. This is why most neighborhoods and thinking people object to many developer plans. It's what has been the over-riding issue at 22 Tarrytown Road. After being punished with Westhab's hapless homeless facility for over 25 years, the neighborhood started to see some relief once the County closed the facility. But giving back to the neighborhood isn't in the cards for this workforce group of people. As they say, no good deed goes unpunished. So, the county purchased the property and gave it to Westhab to develop.

Supervisor Feiner endorses subsidized housing, and came to the neighborhood and said this was workforce housing for Greenburgh's municipal employees and teachers. Then it wasn't. Oops. He lied. Then Westhab’s Robert Sanborn perpetuated the same lie, obviously believing if they say it enough, “everyone” will believe it. But the neighborhood and the surrounding area organizations didn't drink their Kool Aid (not to give Kool Aid a bad name), and knew they had been politically, blatantly, and openly lied to. To spread his standing with the lame-stream media, the supervisor wrote several op-ed pieces pining how the Fulton Park neighborhood were NIMBY's. And yet, all they ever said was build something to scale in the area at 22 Tarrytown Road.

The often pushed-aside-by-Supervisor Feiner, Greenburgh Comprehensive Plan would be a step in the right direction in the Town of Greenburgh as well as one for the County. The Town Board seems to have no issue urinating away $405k on it and then doing what they can to circumvent it before it's adoption for one law firm and it's developer client. People at the Comprehensive planning meetings continue to say the same thing: give us less impervious space, smaller buildings or same-sized buildings to replace what's torn down, more sidewalks, bike paths, parks and green space and less congestion. But alas, the Greenburgh Town Board won't listen. And, they'll continue to travel to the Villages, where they are greeted with open arms as Supervisor Feiner, who continues to praise the Villages he cannot destroy, mock the unincorporated areas he can destroy, and paint the people and findings who participate in the Comprehensive Planning meetings openly as kooks. There's only one real kook here and it’s not the residents.

It's time we change the way government operates. It's time to take out the career politicians and the wannabes who have worked with them for years. We need fresh ideas and people who know how to make tough decisions and take government back and hand it over to the people, where it rightly belongs.

Is Westchester Guilty?

2009-09-10T16:03:00.017-04:00

Sure, it's a pretty tough question to answer, and for most thinking people his HUD settlement plea certainly is an admission of guilt, regardless of the terms of the settlement. Whatever Andy Spano or the other legislators claim, when you settle any suit, even with the inclusion of a "no admission of guilt" clause, you've admitted guilt! He's just trying to "hedge his (compensatory) bet."

I don't believe Westchester is racist, and yes, there is certainly an economic divide. Even if Andy Spano admits he and his failed incumbent board of legislators are racists through this settlement, will a complacent electorate return them the to business as usual on November 3? As they scamper away with their political tail between their legs toward the darkness of say, New Jersey, where shenanigans like this may be acceptable, will Westchester ever get past this uncaring and apathetic routine? I hope so. It's why I'm running for office.

Westchester County is comprised of a very diverse group of peoples. My neighborhood exemplifies this as do so many others. But there is a commonality as well. The people owning homes here, work for everything they get. Many of us struggle, living paycheck to paycheck and fear what may happen if their health and/or employment fails. Yet, they persevere and they really ARE the community they live in. They are not subsidized by government and yet government insists they subsidize others. Why? Because it's the incumbents way of buying more votes through dependency. We know it works - just look at how long so many have stayed in office.

There is an incumbency, no pun intended, to help others in need, whenever possible. But our system for helping others has evolved from a temporary helping hand, to one of dependency, and a multi-million dollar cradle-to-the-grave industry. On top of that, when you saddle private industry with an inordinate amount of regulations, the small companies, or "the little guys" get wiped into oblivion. These are the businesses that need the assistance of government, not to be strangled by it. They are the ones that can help these same people in need the most, through employment, to improve their lives. I'm pretty sure the system as it is now is not what our founding leaders envisioned America would become.

So, is Andy Spano admitting he is a racist? I think he is. To say lets settle this lawsuit is disingenuous to the majority of good people in Westchester. We sit at the crest of the tide of political correctness because of a racist decision, made by a liberal judge with an agenda. This is an issue purely of economics and whether or not you can afford to own property in the southern part of New York State. If you cannot, you can rent an apartment and still live here. There is no "right" to own property as some would suggest. But if you want to own property, go to school, get a good viable education, get a job, work hard and save. And when the right time comes, you can purchase what you can afford, be it a co-op, condominium or a house, anywhere you want. Until then, people in power should rethink, retool and reduce some of the programs that encourage recipients to do nothing and be rewarded for it.

As we retool, rethink and reduce, we should take these same people and insist they go back to school and/or learn a trade so that eventually, they will not be a burden on society, but a contributor to it. Westchester is not racist - it is rich. Rich with ideas, rich with entrepreneurs and self-starters who buckled down and achieved a lot and rich with charity. Our burden of entitlements, created and bastardized by our politicians, needs to change if we are to turn the tide that the elitists have shoved down our throats. And for those that truly need help, we will always be there to offer assistance.

Failing Spano Administration Does It Again!

2009-08-12T17:03:00.006-04:00

Last week, the failing Spano administration paid $750,000 to do a fly-over of Westchester to photograph all the homes and buildings in it. Why? There is a proposal in the County Legislature to enact a bill into law allowing the County to do a county-wide revaluation of all real estate properties in Westchester. This aerial photography will be used to compare homes and buildings once they enact their legislation. They'll do another fly-over and compare the images to see who has built onto their property or not, and then they'll raise your taxes. This bill enables them to do this every two years! Wow! What about home rule?

If you are still having difficulty swallowing this, keep in mind that there is a New York State law mandating revaluation every two years. But, amazingly, not many towns and villages will do it for the obvious reasons: the politicians will lose votes if taxes increase. How does it work? Well, if we had kept up with revaluations regularly, the changes in taxes would be minimal. But, using myself as an example, my home is valued at $10,000. A "reval" might see that go up substantially. Because I work, I may (or may not) be able to afford it. My parents home, which they've been in for about 50 years, may have been valued at $5,000. Like most seniors on a fixed income, any increase could be devastating for them. Seniors will be impacted the most severely. Most politicians know that more seniors vote than kids. Most kids don't own a home or property. So, as you do the math, you can see how this is a nightmare for politicians.

In the end, the Spano administration is spending our tax dollars to spy on us from the air. They found a way to raise our taxes that they didn't have before. They've got some nerve.

Westchester is the highest taxed county in the nation! This has to stop! We need to vote out all of the incumbents and give our county back to the people who support it. It's time for us to be heard!

Oversaturation of the Rt.119 Corridor

2009-07-14T13:45:00.001-04:00

As I travel throughout District #8, and speak with many residents, I'm surprised and frankly, dismayed at how many people are not aware of the County's and the local Towns and Villages Board's eagerness to build on any open space, creating huge, apartment style buildings.

There is a County initiative to build affordable housing apartments along Rt. 119 from the Marriot Hotel, westbound to Rt 9, in Tarrytown. From there their plan is to head north along Rt. 9 on the Hudson River to Peekskill. Can the two-lane Rt.9 handle much more traffic? Can Rt.119 handle any more? I don't think so. When Police Officer Christopher Ridley was tragically shot and killed in White Plains, and White Plains PD basically shut down traffic, the repercussions were felt across the Hudson River as far as the Airmont Road exit on the Thruway. I know because I was stuck in it.

Many are aware of what's been referred to as the Stop and Shop project, roughly where the old Premier Theater used to be. But Stop and Shop is a convenient smokescreen I believe is being perpetrated by DelBello Donnellan Weingarten Wise and Wiederkehr, LLP. They want a zoning change and are not concerned about what the neighborhoods and their people want or say.

There are several factors here in play. To the best of my knowledge and it's my opinion, here's what I have found out while attending over a years worth of Greenburgh, Elmsford, Irvington Town Board meetings:

1) White Hickory's (herein WH) attorneys, DelBello Donnellan Weingarten Wise and Wiederkehr, LLP (herein DelBello), requested this project stop being referred to as The Stop and Shop project. My understanding for this is because they are not obligated to, or want to, commit to building a (Stop and Shop) supermarket at this location. They could build a supermarket there. They have requested a zoning change and are pushing the Greenburgh Town Board (herein GTB) to act on it asap. The reason is they would like to have this done quickly is they need it done before the Greenburgh Comprehensive Plan is adopted.

2) A Comprehensive Plan severely limits what can be built as the governing body must maintain the zoning in place when the plan was adopted - forcing the current zoning to stay as is and not easily able to be changed. Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner is racing through the Town of Greenburgh's unincorporated areas doing what I believe are illegal spot zoning for developers under the guise of developing homeless-affordable-workforce-Section8 housing and "taxables" for the zoning is locked in by the Comprehensive Plan. The plan should be ready shortly.

Why would any politician do this? I cannot say for sure, but possible Greenburgh Supervisor candidate Patricia Weems always says its about money or power. She's probably right.

3) The County has executed a study to see how viable it would be to utilize unused parking spaces in office parks to build apartment buildings. Their misguided thought was that residents of the apartments will park in the fewer available parking spaces at night. When they go to work in the morning, a worker from the office park will slip into that now unoccupied space. They claim this would be young urban people, not families with kids who will live here. Is it any wonder the County is the highest taxed county in the USA?

4) Everyone that I've discussed this with doesn't mind development. It's OVERdevelopment they are against. This is what the failing Spano administration is doing to our neighborhoods, our lifestyles and the quality of life in Westchester. We have traffic congestion that at times makes traffic in NYC seem like the Indianapolis 500. It's time for a change. We need to throw the incumbents out. It's time for US to be heard!

County Government Raises

2009-06-29T10:51:00.000-04:00

Our current county government legislators clearly do not get it. If they did, they would not be raising taxes, increasing spending, raising their salaries and increasing their expenses! They would, in today's economy, vociferously, vigorously and without question announce that they are refusing a raise and looking to make cuts everywhere! But their egos and their lack of understanding of what the “right thing” is, and their lack of understanding of what the average person is going through, won't allow it. It's simply (monkey) business as usual. I'm an average guy who is constantly doing without one more thing just to get by and pay my bills. If you ran any kind of business the way these people run county government, it would be out of business quickly.

Part of the issue is the lack of checks and balances that have been removed from all of our systems of government. When we were in school, we all learned about balance, a two (or multiple) party system and the benefits thereof. We are experiencing the socialist, one-party rule at the local, county, state and federal levels by only having democrats in power. This must change. It's time to be heard!

Ghandi said, "Be the change you want to see in your world." I believe in this and want to see my family's and my son's future world, be a good, affordable one that treats people with courtesy and respect. We haven't had this for some time now. Vote for me for 8th District County Legislator and help me bring government back to 'We the People'.

"Fed Up and Unwilling to be Ignored. It's Time to be Heard!"

We Must Reduce the Size of County Government

2009-06-29T09:30:00.000-04:00

I believe we can. The biggest and most challenging aspect of this goal is that it must be a bi-partisan effort. I agree with Rob Astorino, our candidate for County Legislator, that we must stop the tax madness in Westchester and New York state. But, the initial stage will require the voice of the people (read Vox Populi @ Westchester Herald (www.WHYTMedia.typepad.com) to push all the legislators to start by cutting the pork we have in government. Do we really need someone being paid to deal with movie companies making movies in Westchester? Maybe we do, but why pick on one position. We need to reevaluate all positions.

After we start trimming do-nothing, patronage and unnecessary positions, we can go after the programs that are redundant, not successful or producing a cost-effective return, outdated, and most importantly, duplicated. As we begin this trimming, we should be able to at least hold our taxes where they are. As we continue to trim, we should slowly begin to see our taxes go down. It took years for the democratically controlled legislature to get us here and it will be difficult, but not impossible to to reverse this trend.

A large portion of my district, District 8, is a low income area and the recipient of many dollars for many people. It will be difficult, but not impossible for us to address this without displacing or hurting our recipients. But government cannot continue a cradle-to-the-grave environment forever. We are now paying the price for that. Plus, there are many options from the private sector that may accomplish the same things that don't cost as much or anything.

Help me by joining my campaign. If you agree with me, great! If you don't agree, feel free to disagree, but offer me a real solution, not talking points, and I'll listen with an open mind. You can also email me at ElectTomBock@gmail.com.

Why I'm Running for Westchester County Legislator for the 8th District

2009-04-21T16:29:00.003-04:00

Hi Neighbor,

My name is Tom Bock, and I live in the Fulton Park neighborhood in the Town of Greenburgh, NY. I am a life-long Greenburgh resident and when I got married, twenty one years ago, I moved to Fulton Park with my wife, Sue. We had the dreams that most young couples have when they are starting out and began to plan. We worked non-stop on our fix-er-upper house for a year, slowly making it nicer for us. My son, Cameron, was born 17 years ago. He is quite an accomplished musician and hopes to pursue his education in music, following in the footsteps of his teacher and mentor, my dad, John. My parents live in Greenburgh as well.

I've been a firefighter in the Elmsford F.D., for 36 years and am still active in firefighting. In 1989 and 1990 I served as the Chief of the department. On a County level, I have been a member of the Westchester County Hazardous Materials Response Team and am a co-founder of the Westchester County Technical Rescue Team. Both of these teams are all-volunteer and serve to protect the entire County and it's guests. I am a director on both the Westchester County Association of Fire Chiefs and the Westchester County Volunteer Firefighter's Association.

When Hurricane Katrina struck, I organized a one-weekend fund raising drive for the fire service and the Chiefs' Association. We raised and distributed over $180,000 to the emergency services in the Harrison Fire District in Mississippi. I also helped coordinate a delivery of $35k in Christmas gifts to this same Gulf region with our great corporate neighbor, Modell's Sporting Goods.

I responded with many of my fire service colleagues to NYC when we were attacked on September 11, 2001. As a result of my involvement in the fire service, I was asked to sit on the Westchester County WMD Planning Committee and the Special Operations Oversight Committee. These very important organizations work to help Westchester's residents and guests be safe and be prepared for many types of emergencies that we never dreamed of before 9-11.

Like most of you, I am disgusted with the exorbitant tax increases we've suffered with over the years. I have witnessed first hand dealing with the County, how difficult, obtrusive and unresponsive getting help from this lumbering giant can be. Rob Astorino, the candidate for County Executive wants to reduce County government and I agree with him. We have seen patronage positions given out without regard to need, expertise, or expense. We've seen Playland, a national and local treasure, lose money and be mismanaged to the tune of a $3 million yearly. The medical center, which I have a love-hate relationship with, hasn't been managed well for years and yet we keep increasing it's size yearly. Their expertise saved my father's life and I'm grateful for that. But, the abuses and waste are pervasive and need to stop! I want to work to end these abuses, reduce the size of the County government and return accountability and responsibility to the people of Westchester County!

I'm running in the election for Westchester County Legislator for the 8th District to try and take back control of our County government. I am not a career politician. In fact, I never thought of myself as running for anything until my neighborhood got hammered by the County. They purchased a .7 acre of property and decided without discussions with the neighborhood to create a social services hub in Greenburgh. No neighborhood should be treated this way!

I will no longer sit back and hope others will step up and do something. I am stepping up to challenges we face and will work to represent all the neighborhoods in District 8, which includes portions of White Plains, Greenburgh, Sleepy Hollow and Mount Pleasant. If you feel your voice has been ignored, if you are tired of being abused and if you want to see honesty and accountability in County Government, help me. Join my campaign.

Together we can make a difference.

Thank you.

Tom

Tom Bock

White Plains, Ny

ElectTomBock@gmail.com

ElectTomBock.blogspot.com