Friday, October 29, 2010

News That Matters - Friday, October 29, 2010 - Things To Do Edition

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“Seriously they want me to wear purple because five queers killed themselves. The only way im wearin it for them is if they all commit suicide. I cant believe the people of this world have gotten this stupid. We are honoring the fact that they sinned and killed thereselves because of their sin. REALLY PEOPLE.”
- Arkansas District School board member Clint McCance's Facebook post

Good Friday Morning,

This morning the NYJN endorsed Maryellen Odell for County Executive. I'm surprised since they have a hard time finding Putnam County at all unless it's in the police reports. For those of you who read the Gannett paper, is there a Putnam section? No, we're attached to Westchester as if we're the 'red haired step-child' of that larger, more populous county.

Hold on to your hats! Over the next few days your mailbox will be stuffed with big shiny cards pushing one candidate or another. This week alone (as of yesterday) I've received, 31 pieces of mail. It's enough for an auto de fé! Where is Diego de Landa when you need him? I've also received numerous robo-calls including one inviting me to a 'bagger rally in Carmel tomorrow. Sorry, I'm having root canal without anesthesia and it sounds like more fun.

Anyway, In the mail were:
  • 1 piece in favor of the Ballster
  • 3 pieces against John Hall, none of which had a single verifiable fact among them unless you twist reality in that special way reserved for the Limbaughs and O'Reilly's of the world.
  • 6 pieces against Nan Hayworth with only about half of those holding anything factual.
  • 3 pieces for Sandy Galef - from Sandy Galef.
  • 1 for Judge Jim Maisano (For the record, I don't vote for judges. It's a stupid idea.)
  • 1 piece for Eric Schneiderman, John Hall and Mike Kaplowitz combined.
  • 4 pieces against Carl Paladino and,
  • 12 pieces against the Ballster with every one of them factual ,though annoying as these things go.

Just a reminder: If you cannot bring yourself to vote for either of the 'ells running for County Executive and you still want to vote in that race, write in "Jeff Green". It fits nicely in the box. Can we get 50 votes?

It should not be difficult!

Each day that passes the campaign for county executive, Congress and the State Senate (40th) just gets stranger and stranger. If the elections don't come soon the National Institute of Health is going to have come in and administer Thorazine to everyone in the county just to stop our heads from exploding!

Here, let me make it even easier for you:

Maryellen Odell
does not support women's rights. Released the other day was a palm card put out by the "Westchester and Putnam Pro-Life PAC" and on it are the usual suspects, Ball, Katz, and Paladino. But also listed on the card is Mary Ellen Odell. There are judges too: Matthew Byrne and James Burke, both running for State Supreme Court.

On the one hand we have a Senator who does not support civil rights (though he does surround himself with cute guys). On the other hand we have a county Legislator who wants the government to leave us alone but is willing to allow the government legislate women's rights?

What planet are we living on? And how do we get off?


Wabbit Season! Duck Season!

Pick one but be careful in the woods. Here, briefly, are the hunting seasons (PDF) in our area:
Deer:
Bowhunting - October16 - November 19
Guns - November 20 - December 12
Muzzleloading - December 13 - December 21
Fall Turkey Season - October 23 - November 5
Bobcat (if you can believe it!) - October 25 - February 15
Weasel, Opossum Raccoon and Fox - October 25 - February 15
Coyote - October 1 - March 27
Cute, cuddly bunnies - October 1 - February 28
Squirrels - September 1 - February 28
Pheasant, Grouse, Quail - October 1 - February 28
Woodcock - October 6 - November 4
Crow - September 1 - March 31 (Friday's Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays only.)
Snipe, Rails and Gallinules (whatever they are) - September 1 - November 9
As you can see, pretty much anything that moves is legal to shoot at right now so please, BE CAREFUL when you're taking a walk in the forests. Here's a hint: carry a whistle with you and as you enter the woods blow on it twice. Then, from time to time (every 10 or 15 minutes or so) give it another couple of toots. Three toots, by the way, is a distress call so don't be doing that. (Unless you find your leg pierced with an arrow or your back riddled with buckshot.)

What's Going On?

Friday, October 29

The Dark Side of Chocolate

7 PM- Documentary film about trafficking of children in the international chocolate industry.  Fair-traded chocolate for the trick or treaters will be available.  Sponsored by the Social Justice Committee, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 67 South Randolph Ave., Poughkeepsie.  Contact Pat Lamanna, 845-452-4013. patla@hvc.rr.com .

Saturday, October 30

Fall Foliage Hike

10:00AM. Fishkill Ridge, Fishkill. A 4-mile trek ascending 1,200 feet along Fishkill Ridge, stopping at Lambs Hill for lunch and a magnificent panoramic vista. Moderately strenuous, but fall's wonderful colors should make it worth the effort.  Bring lunch and plenty of water. Contact Anthony Coneski, 845 473 4440 Ext. 273, www.scenichudson.org.

Canvassing in Support of the Southeast Old Town Hall Project

10AM - 4PM  (And Sunday from 9AM-1PM). We are scheduled for A&P to hand out flyers on Saturday and Sunday. We need extra coverage from 12-2 on Saturday and 9-1 on Sunday. If anyone can help out, if only for an hour, please let me know.  It would be best to have two people on at all times.
Contact: Fiddlebobz@aol.com

Aurora: Reading of a new play by Tony Howarth

8 PM at the Cultural Center on Lake Carmel/Arts on the Lake. Locked in a prison in his mind, a Vietnam Veteran is shaken by his encounter with an Illegal Immigrant trying to avoid a prison that is more literal. The cast for this reading: Lester: Sean Hopkins, Eduardo: Angel Morales, Olivia: Zulie Lozada, Poppy: Lora Lee Ecobelli, Hamilton: Paul Dommermuth, Pierce: Jeff Green, Stage Directions: Bart Cook. Tickets:  $8.00 – $10.00 Visit Arts on the Lake for more information.

Maggie Seligman

8PM - Jitters Coffeehouse, 1273 Queen Street, Southington, CT. 860.747.1100 www.jittersclub.com or info@jittersclub.com. A stellar venue with delicious pie and a great vibe.  Only original music here.  And, a surprise guest will join me!

Into the Future:

Wednesday, November 3

Planet Green: Teaching Sustainability to the Next Generation

8:45am - 1pm. Free one-day conference for students; educators; environmentalists and green businesses interested in sustainable education and activities in the Hudson Valley, sponsored by Swiss Re and Green Chimneys at Clearpool Education Center, Youth and Professional Tracks with guest speakers on Climate Change; NY's Engagement of Renewal Energy; Empowering Youth as Sustainability Consultants; Biomembrane Reactor Tour; interactive exhibit of Solar Technology and Q & A panel. Pls contact Laurie Rumpf at Lrumpf@greenchimneys org. 845-279-2995 ext. 108. Register: Planet Green Registration

Professional Track

9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - For environmentalists, businesses and educators
Professional track attendees will be provided a continental breakfast, lunch, and networking opportunities.
• Keynote Address - Climate Change: Mark Way, Head of Sustainable Development, Swiss Re
• Special Guest Speaker: Melissa Everett, PhD Sustainable Hudson Valley
• Green Cities and the Clearwater Center for Environment Justice: Jeff Rumpf Ms. Ed, Executive Director, Clearwater
• New York State’s Engagement of Renewable Energy: Dr. John Harrington, Vice President, Solar Energy Consortium
• Biomimicry: Dorna Schroeter, Program Coordinator, Center for Environmental Education at P/NW BOCES
• Empowering Youth as Sustainability Consultants: Scott Beall, Executive Director, DoRight Leadership Corps
• Examples of Solar Technology (interactive exhibit): William Cox, Director of Programs, The Solar Energy Consortium
• Q and A panel (with all presenters) at the conclusion of the conference with Dorna Schroeter as moderator

* Curriculum samples will be given to each educator who attends.

Saturday, November 6

Common Ground Farm Auction

7PM - 10PM - Sampling delicious local foods, bidding on exciting Hudson Valley products and services, and even getting a jump on holiday shopping will all be part of the festivities at the Common Ground Farm Harvest Auction. The second annual benefit event will be held Saturday, November 6 at 7 pm at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Parish Hall at 850 Wolcott Avenue (Route 9D) in Beacon.

The evening of hors d’oeuvre, wine, and music includes both ...a silent auction and a spirited live auction. A cornucopia of donated items for bid includes tickets for Chef Anthony Bourdain’s show at UPAC, a private cooking class for eight by Home Cooking New York, a timeshare in Florida, a session with a professional organizer, tickets for a taping of Inside the Actor’s Studio, and much more. The event will feature foods prepared from ingredients from Common Ground Farm as well as those donated by local purveyors.

Tickets are $15 and are available at the Beacon Farmers Market, Artisan Wine Shop, www.commongroundfarm.org, and at the door. For more information about the event, call (845) 231-4424. To learn more about the farm, visit www.commongroundfarm.org.

Sunday, November 7

Ten Mile River Cleanup

9AM - We will conduct a cleanup of the public fishing access areas along the Ten Mile River in Dover. We will meet at 9:00am at Boyce Park in Wingdale, just north of the Ketchum Fire House at the intersection of Route 55 and County Route 21/Pleasant Ridge Road, east of the light on Route 22. It's the park with all the ball fields, you can't miss it. We'll consolidate into a couple of vehicles and stop at the public fishing access areas to pick up litter. We should be done by 12:00am. Gloves and garbage bags will be provided. Keep in mind that some of these areas are adjacent to busy streets so it might not be a good idea to bring small children along. Don Jiskra with the Mid-Hudson Chapter of Trout Unlimited has organized this clean-up. He can be reached at 845-855-7357 or djiskra@comcast.net. Please send Don a note if you plan to attend.

Friday, November 12

The Future of Your Woods

A workshop for landowners in the Eastern Hudson Highlands. At the Clearpool Education Ctr, Carmel, NY. This workshop will provide landowners with info and tools to get the most out of their woodlands, and learn how to take care of it for future generations. For more information, contact Kristi Sullivan at kls20@cornell.edu or Laura Heady at lheady@gw.dec.state.ny.us

Michele LeBlanc

7:30PM - 10PM at the Division Street Grill in Peekskill. Featuring jazz pianist Tom Kohl. 26 North Division Street, Peekskill NY 10566. Call for dinner reservations 914 739 6380  www.DivisionStreetGrill.com

Tuesday, November 16

Sustainable Restoration of Historic Buildings

Historic buildings represent one of the most sustainable forms of construction, and many of these structures have inherent energy conserving features that are often overlooked. Unique approaches to rehabilitation and restoration are essential in order to preserve historic character and to minimize the potential for unintended consequences that may result from ill-conceived or poorly implemented energy-related upgrades. This presentation will cover an introduction on Historic Preservation, review of the 2010 Energy Conservation Code of NYS, the top 10 things to keep in mind when "greening" an historic structure, and case studies. 1 AIA CEU will likely be available for this event. Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main Street, Beacon, NY

About the Presenters:

Marilyn Kaplan is a NYS registered architect based in Albany. For 20-years, her firm, Preservation Architecture, has specialized in all aspects of planning and implementing restoration on historic structures. Her projects have included dozens of religious properties, libraries, and museums throughout the Hudson Valley and the northeast, as well as monumental buildings such as state capitals, the Russell Senate Office Building and White House in Washington, DC. Ms. Kaplan is a project manager at NYSERDA.

Walter Sedovic, FAIA LEED, Principal & CEO of Walter Sedovic Architects, is dedicated to sustainable preservation. His work and firm represent the vanguard of infusing preservation projects with green building approaches and ideologies, resulting in enriched educational, economic and cultural opportunities, with strong community ties. Walter's achievements have led to his elevation into the American Institute of Architects' prestigious College of Fellows.

Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, MLS, is the Coordinator for Library Growth & Sustainability at the Mid-Hudson Library System in New York where she has assisted 66 member libraries in the areas of governance, management, funding and facilities since 1998. Rebekkah is a LEED AP and a certified Sustainable Building Advisor (NaSBA). Rebekkah consults nationally with public libraries, helping them understand how to create sustainable facilities, operations and programs: http://sustainablelibraries.org
 
Please RSVP Today
Tickets are $10 for advance sales to Chapter Members and Students, $15 for Members and Students at the door, and $20 for Non-members. To purchase tickets online and register visit the Green Events Calendar.
If you are purchasing tickets at the door please RSVP by replying to this email. Light refreshments are provided.

Saturday, November 20

Affordable Art Show

10AM - 4PM (repeats Sunday) If you are shopping for high-quality, unique and affordable gifts or if you simply want to furnish your home with new art, Arts on the Lake may have what you’re looking for. AotL is proud to announce its first Affordable Art Show to be held at the Center on Saturday, November 20th and Sunday, November 21st from 10:00-4:00. Those who “oohed and aahed” over the high quality and scope of the art exhibited at AotL’s Annual Fall Members’ Art Show now have an opportunity to shop for pocket-friendly fine art created by the Center’s member artists.
AotL is located at 640 Route 52, Kent Lakes , New York 10512. For further information call 845 228-2685.

Monday, November 22

Dam Removal 201: Sediment Assessment & Management

9:00AM - 3:30PM. Norrie Point Environmental Center, Staatsburg, NY Hosted by American Rivers. Funded by and in partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson River Estuary Program, and the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission.

Objective: This free one-day workshop is a follow-up to our Dam Removal Project Manager Training held this past March. By popular demand, this workshop will focus in more detail on sediment assessment and management approaches at dam removals. The workshop speakers and facilitators will include expert staff from American Rivers, as well as Joe Rathbun, who instructs courses around the country on dam removal sediment assessment and is a member of the federal Subcommittee on Sediment, which is developing national guidelines for dam removal sediment assessment and management. The morning portion of the workshop will include presentations on sediment assessment techniques and management approaches through case studies and a description of the draft federal guidelines. In the afternoon, we will have a facilitated discussion of how national and regional dam removal sediment protocols conform with existing New York regulations and guidance, with the objective of defining sediment assessment and management approaches that are applicable to dam removals in New York.

Who Will Benefit: Regulators, state conservation staff, conservation organizations, watershed organizations, county soil and water conservation districts, emergency management officials, hazard mitigation planners, public works department staff. Previous attendance at the Dam Removal Project Manager Training is NOT necessary for this workshop.

NOTE: Consultants are welcome, but will be placed on a wait list and registered if space remains after the registration deadline. Registration is limited to 40. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

To Register or Obtain a Detailed Course Agenda, contact: Rebecca Budd, American Rivers, rbudd@amrivers.org, Subject: "NY Dam Removal Workshop."

Monday, December 13

Conference on Water Resources and the Regional Economy

The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and the Hudson River Estuary Program, in partnership with the SUNY New Paltz Center for Research, Regional Education and Outreach, the Hudson River Watershed Alliance will host a conference on Water Resources and the Regional Economy. Confirmed Speakers are Maurice Hinchey, Region 2 Administrator Judith Enck, and NYSDEC Assistant Commissioner for Water Resources James Tierney. Expected audience: Municipal staff, engineers, planners, environmental groups, and volunteers involved in green infrastructure and low impact development planning projects. For more information and regular updates visit: http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/4920.html, or email hrep@gw.dec.state.ny.us and put "Water Conference" in the subject line.
Location: SUNY New Paltz, Student Union Building, Multi-Purpose Room
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Wednesday, October 27, 2010

News That Matters - Wednesday, October 27, 2010

News That Matters

News That Matters
Brought to you (Almost Daily) by PlanPutnam.Org


Good Wednesday Morning,

From the Town of Kent:
It is with great sadness to inform everyone of the passing of former Putnam County Legislator and Town of Kent Supervisor Arne H. Nordstrom on Sunday, October 25, 2010.  The arrangements are as follows: BALSAMO/CORDOVANO FUNERAL HOME, Church Street, Carmel, New York. The family will be receiving friends on Thursday, 10/28/2010 at the Funeral Home from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Diabetes Association.
Last week I wrote the Putnam Times inquiring whether it was legal for unsigned political advertisements to be published in a newspaper. Here is the response from Marty Collins:
While I do not handle the advertising arrangements for the newspaper, I do believe the ad was sent to us by Leibell campaign personnel. As for it having to have a campaign signature, I have been told that it is not a legal requirement.
Can anyone shed any more light on that?

Do you play Farmville, Mafia Wars or Texas Hold'em on Facebook? You do? Well your identifying personal data is like - everywhere - and the makers of the game are facing Federal lawsuit over it. And all you needed was just one more cow!

Aurora: Reading of a new play by Patterson's Tony Howarth: This Saturday, October 30 at 8 PM at the Cultural Center on Lake Carmel/Arts on the Lake. Locked in a prison in his mind, a Vietnam Veteran is shaken by his encounter with an Illegal Immigrant trying to avoid a prison that is more literal. The cast for this reading: Lester: Sean Hopkins, Eduardo: Angel Morales, Olivia: Zulie Lozada, Poppy: Lora Lee Ecobelli, Hamilton: Paul Dommermuth, Pierce: Jeff Green, Stage Directions: Bart Cook. Tickets:  $8.00 – $10.00 Visit Arts on the Lake for more information.


Election Edition Roundup:

"Awesome post today - Election Round Up Edition. Thanks for that!!!!" -SS
"Another great Jeff Green column! " - MS
"I enjoyed your commentaries on the upcoming contests.  Thanks for the perspective." -GB

The response from Monday's column has been intense and all-positive. People I don't even like have lauded it as an objective examination of the current political situation in this county. On the other hand, one writer suggested I might now need "protection" and we'll find out if that is true over the next few months.

Mike Santos of Brewster had this to say:
I like George's idea of "None of the Above", and prefer it to skipping the County Executive line altogether. Although "None of the Above" cannot be elected, a large enough percentage of such votes might give pause to the winner, whomever it may be, and endow them with some humility during their term, if they are capable of humility. It might arm the County Legislature with the political courage to stand up to the winner more often on more issues, and ensure that no one becomes a dictator, or anything close to it.

On the other hand, consider writing in "Jeff Green".

Jeff is not a member of either major party, and is more likely to form a non-partisan administration than either GOP candidate...and a few years of non-partisan government is exactly what Putnam County desperately needs.

Jeff probably knows more about the environmental issues facing Putnam than any two other people I know. You don't care about environmental issues? Wait until the bills start arriving for state-mandated stormwater remediation under Phase II of MS-4. The recent memo posted here by Supervisor Rights tells me that the outflow of tens of millions of dollars from each of our eastern Towns has already begun.

You might want to ponder on that.

Do you worry that Jeff might actually win a write-in campaign, as Ball recently did in the Conservative Party primary?

It is possible, I admit.

Jeff has many stances on various issues that some may find to be negatives. Certainly, Jeff and I have crossed swords on this Group more than once in the past. However, should Jeff be elected, let us remember that he'd be held in check by a solidly Republican majority in the County Legislature on policy matters and budget.

Jeff may do better by Putnam than either GOP candidate; he could hardly do worse.

So just in case I do win, here's my platform:
  • If elected I'll cut the CE's salary in half and either bicycle or scooter to work as often as possible.
  • I will allow commissioners the ability to work free of a pre-set political agenda and if they develop one, I'll fire their asses.
  • I won't hire Insite Engineering for anything.
  • I'll find something meaningful for Ed Barnett to do and give him the authority to do it.
  • I'll turn Putnam County into a vacation "destination" for the 20 million who live within 90 minutes drive of here to generate business income and sales taxes.
  • I will institute the PACE program so that homeowners can get micro-loans to make their homes more energy efficient, thus saving them hundreds of dollars each year.
  • I'll suggest the county Legislature take a 30% reduction in pay and use those funds to support the arts as an economic engine for the region.
  • I will make the IDA actually do what IDA's do and seek out green businesses to settle in Putnam County at under-utilized commercial locations thus creating jobs and generating tax income.
  • I'll start a bio-fuel oil co-op county wide.
  • I will open the county's health insurance pool to any resident who wants in possibly saving the county tens of thousands in annual health care costs.
  • I'll reopen the county recycling center and with the proceeds open a traveling/motorized walk-in health clinic for those earning under $24,000 a year. 
  • You know how the county guarantees delinquent school taxes? Not anymore!
  • I will not build a million dollar home in Patterson.
  • Until the unemployment rate drops to 7.5% the county will not assist in any foreclosure proceedings against county residents.
  • I will require the Department of Consumer Affairs to work *for* contractors rather than against them.
  • I will not have a horse farm in Steuben County.
  • I will still have the Annual Garden Party.
  • I'll see to a completion of the rail trail and sidewalks from the Hamlet to Put Plaza.
  • By the end of my tenure every county building will either be sporting solar panels, geothermal heat pumps or an environmental overhaul to save an equivalent amount of energy - and money.
  • Buildable vacant properties in residential zones that come up for the county tax sale will be held and sold for a nominal amount to various land trusts to keep property taxes down.
  • I will see that the State installs proper signals and turning lanes between the Reed Library and Smalley's to alleviate the traffic congestion there.
  • We'll be farming over at Tilly Foster to generate enough cellulosic ethanol to power a portion of the county car and truck fleet thus saving tens of thousands of dollars a year.
  • I will open a satellite office in Philipstown and encourage the county Legislature to meet there 4 months out of the year.
  • I will discourage the building of new 'senior housing' units to slow the growth of the cost of Medicaid.
  • I will hold office hours on Saturdays for constituents to come in, have a cup of coffee and chat a while.
  • I will suggest to the legislature that the public be allowed to vote - line by line - on the budget in a non-binding referendum.
Consider that a start towards governmental sanity.


And now, The News:

Church unveils massive solar-panel system

By Alman Ali

PLEASANTVILLE — The Rev. Paul Egensteiner joked that the Emanuel Lutheran Church should celebrate the installation of 134 solar panels on the congregation's rooftop.

"Somebody suggested a bottle of champagne but, with electricity, I figure that wouldn't work well," he said with a chuckle.

The church on Sunday dedicated the new panels, which will convert sunlight into electricity for the building. The initiative was led by Gerard Falco, chairman of the church's environmental stewardship committee.

"Like a lot of churches, this is a statement about the environment," he said. "We consider the planet to be God's gift to us and this is our moral obligation to preserve it."

Read More

Incline Railway supporters want line up and running in two years

Midhudsonnews.com

BEACON – The Mount Beacon Incline Railway, out of commission for some 27 years, was a major tourist attraction for over 70 years.

The incline railroad, which climbed the steep Mount Beacon to its crest from 1902 through 1978, would cost millions to rebuild. But, despite that lofty goal, members of the Mount Beacon Incline Railway Restoration Society have a timetable by which they would like to resume service, said Beacon City Mayor Steven Gold, a member of the effort.

Read More

Cops: Motorists shoot deer from car, crossbow shaft hits house

By Dwight R. Worley

SUFFERN — Two men were arrested Sunday after a crossbow fired from a car killed a deer, Ramapo police said.

One of the men was accused of firing a crossbow into the woods near West Carlton and College roads about 7 p.m., police said.

The shaft went through a deer and struck the front of a nearby home about 18 inches below a picture window, Sgt. Robert Lancia said. The home was occupied, but no one was hurt, he said.

The deer ran about 75 yards before collapsing, Lancia said.

Read More

Ten Questions for Tea Partiers

By Ralph Nader

Here are ten questions for Tea Partiers that they want or do not want to answer. I say it this way because people who call themselves Tea Partiers do not have the same view of politics, government, Big Business or the Constitution. Their opinions range from pure Libertarian to actively furthering the privileges of plutocracy. Their income and occupational background vary as well, though most seem to be middle-income and up.

My guess is that most Tea Partiers come from the conservative wing of the Republican Party who are fed up with both the corporate Republicans like Bush and Cheney, as well as the Democrats like Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi.

With the above in mind, the following questions can serve to go beyond abstractions and generalizations of indignation and get to some more specific responses.

1. Can you be against Big Government and not press for reductions in the vast military budgets, fraught with bureaucratic and large contractors’ waste, fraud and abuse? Military spending now takes up half of the federal government’s operating budgets. The libertarian Cato Institute believes that to cut deficits, we have to also cut the defense budget.

2. Can you believe in the free market and not condemn hundreds of billions of dollars of corporate welfare-bailouts, subsidies, handouts, and giveaways?

Read More

Eight False Things the Public "Knows" Prior to Election Day

by: Dave Johnson

There are a number of things the public "knows" as we head into the election that are just false. If people elect leaders based on false information, the things those leaders do in office will not be what the public expects or needs.

Here are eight of the biggest myths that are out there:

1) President Obama tripled the deficit.
Reality: Bush's last budget had a $1.416 trillion deficit. Obama's first budget reduced that to $1.29 trillion.

2) President Obama raised taxes, which hurt the economy.
Reality: Obama cut taxes. 40% of the "stimulus" was wasted on tax cuts which only create debt, which is why it was so much less effective than it could have been.

3) President Obama bailed out the banks.
Reality: While many people conflate the "stimulus" with the bank bailouts, the bank bailouts were requested by President Bush and his Treasury Secretary, former Goldman Sachs CEO Henry Paulson. (Paulson also wanted the bailouts to be "non-reviewable by any court or any agency.") The bailouts passed and began before the 2008 election of President Obama.

Read More
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All types of tree work, all aspects of lawn maintenance, snow plowing and more!

82 Hortontown Rd.
Kent Cliffs, NY 10512
greico@verizon.net
T- (914)224-3049
F- (845)231-0815


Mike Kaplowitz
Town of Kent Conservation
Advisory Committee

Mt. Nimham Fire Tower

Explore the outdoors in the Town of Kent, New York


Chuckie Goodnight Foundation
To educate children on how to be good stewards of the earth.

Chris Casaburi
Photographer

(845) 531-2358
Casaburi.com


Brown Ink
Commercial Printing

600 Horsepound Road,
Kent Lakes, NY 10512
(845) 225-0177
Greg Brown


One Click ButterCutter
A Putnam County Owned Business Enterprise
ButterCutter


Copyright © 2010 News That Matters

Monday, October 25, 2010

News That Matters - Monday, October 25th, 2010 - The Election Roundup Edition

News That Matters

News That Matters
Brought to you (Almost Daily) by PlanPutnam.Org


Good Monday Morning,

As usual, I'm not going to be making any friends this morning as I dive into local political races - and that with our annual fund drive kicking off next Wednesday! But really, where else are you going to get information like this laid out in such an open and honest way? Like it or not, you've got to love it.

Those who have been reading this column in its various incarnations for all these years know that I'm not one of those writers with delicate sensitivities. As (now, write-in) 19th district congressional candidate Neil DiCarlo told me a few months back, he cannot find fault with my facts but he does not like the way I lay them out. Fair enough. But I'm not in the business of selling you packets of survival seeds against the coming collapse of the nation like Glenn Beck, and I'm not in the business of building a media empire by pushing the buttons of the less-than-intelligent as Rush Limbaugh does. And I don't ignore poll results in order to push a candidate backed by the national Democrats as does Moveon.org. And as much as I wish I could be co-opted by corporations as easily as the staff at Fox News, I'm just in the business of trying to be as objective as possible about the things and issues that affect us.

I decry the current political state of our towns, county, state and nation. For reasons best left to psychologists and sociologists, the American political system, which was once diverse and actually interesting, has become a two-sided coin with no edge side. You're either a conservative or a liberal. You're either a Democrat or a Republican. You are either a patriot or a traitor. You either win or lose and everything else, any other thought, any attempt whatsoever to engage citizens with objectivity is decried as divisive. Consider me divisive then, for there are a million shades of political opinion and those who have drunk the two-side cool-aid have placed themselves into a psychological prison they cannot escape from. Rather, they are comfortable there, neatly ensconced in an environment where everyone they know can be safely categorized into one of two camps - even if they must create it - and where alternate thought is heresy.

Many will say otherwise, that they are objective thinkers and that they recognize the broad spectrum of actual political thought but when push comes to shove they will defend 'their side' as a hedge against the 'other' thus perpetuating the status quo and the mess we're in just gets worse.

I'm not a man who votes defensively. I do not vote for one candidate to prevent another from getting elected. In fact, that kind of voting bears much of the responsibility for where we are today. Instead, I vote *for* candidates I feel best represent my positions and if there is no one on the ballot running for a particular seat I feel can meet that requirement I will write someone in instead. And, not being a member of a mainstream political party I am free to do so.

As an example, my friends of a more progressive nature give me hell for voting this way, for voting my conscience. They blame my vote for Ralph Nader in 2000 as being directly responsible for the election of George Bush. But what they fail to understand and I believe intentionally so, is that their candidate that year offered me no reason to vote *for* him and thus I and millions of others voted for another. Had their candidate had something to offer he might have received my vote. Maybe not. But it wasn't my vote that got Mr. Bush elected, it was the failure of their candidate to give me a reason to vote for him.

This year in Putnam County is no different. In fact it's a political nightmare of almost biblical proportions! Okay, there's a little hyperbole there for we will survive, somehow, regardless of the outcome next Tuesday but it's probably going to suck anyway. With that said, I could be wrong. It has happened! But not that often...

So, here goes:

NY State Senate, 40th District: Mike Kaplowitz vs Greg Ball.

I have known Mr. Kaplowitz by reputation for years. My work with environmental and land-use organizations in Westchester county has provided that and he has never failed in his unwavering support for their efforts. His tenure on the county Legislature, a county with a billion dollar plus budget, has put him in a class worthy of being sent to deal with budgets of that size in Albany. Westchester is also a rather diverse county with cities and suburbs, with the wealthiest and poorest Americans living almost side-by-side, an almost virtual copy of the state as a whole. The move for Mr. K from White Plains to Albany would be almost effortless and his successful efforts at keeping Westchester's budgets under control have been laudatory.
On the other hand I have known Greg Ball for almost as long and his failure to be of sound mind has also never failed to amuse and horrify. But it was his shifting of funds from his "Citizens United For Ethical Growth (CUEG), a faux smart-growth organization formed with the blessing of Senator Leibell (pre-feud), to his campaign for Assembly that was the most egregious act he ever could have engaged in as far as I was concerned. Way worse than his directed public insults against me in my fight for social justice as outlined in the Constitution a document he sees as only worth supporting when it supports him and his needs. I could write tens of thousands of words why Mr. Ball is unfit to represent me or anyone in any elected capacity but I'd just be repeating myself.

It's rare there's a candidate on the ballot I actually want to vote for and this year Mr. Kaplowitz is it.

The County Executive's Race

In this particular race, the one for Putnam County Executive, we're faced with two balloted candidates with neither one inspiring confidence in the electorate. On the one hand we have retiring State Senator Vincent Leibell who uses his power like a sledge hammer, punishing anyone who doesn't follow in lock-step with his dictates and too many have felt those hammer blows whether they come with the force of overwhelming might or more subtly, but you know they come. Just ask outgoing party chair Anthony Scannapieco or county legislator Tony Fusco. Municipalities have seen state funds simply disappear when they step out of line and reappear when they beg forgiveness and persistent rumors of past State Police harassment of individuals will simply not go away.
On the other hand we have county legislator Maryellen Odell who insists she is an independent voice yet refuses to kill the pernicious public belief that she is aligned with Greg Ball. And though Ms. Odell tells me I'm the only one who reports this connection, and thus have created a connection where it does not exist, I only report what I hear and am told, not what I may suspect without such evidence.

But it was Maryellen herself who addressed the crowd at Ball's 'bagger rally on July 24th in Patterson along with Bill Gouldman, Steve Katz and Anthony Mele and that's a connection that cannot be said to be fictional. Mainstream Republicans were not in attendance at that rally, Senator Leibell was not there and that was not due to a 'scheduling conflict'. In fact, the rally focused not on immigration or Obama or taxes, but on the mainstream Republican Party and its failure to adequately represent that segment of voters. (It is interesting to note however that the mood of that group has softened quite substantially over the months as the 'baggers now support Nan Hayworth for Congress, a candidate for whom they had little nice to say about on that hot summer day and who was in favor of woman's rights before the primary but has now softened on that issue in order to secure the 'bagger vote away from the anti-rights candidate, Neil DiCarlo.)

Many words have been written in support of one candidate or the other. Attorney Victor Grossman writes persuasively in support of Vinnie Leibell. Jerry and Judy Ravnitsky write just as movingly in support of Maryellen Odell. But though the writers are registered Democrats neither candidate has seen fit to reach outside their own party factions to drum up votes. Both candidates have refused to engage Blanks and Democrats as if those voters simply do not count and in their world they do not. Why? They cannot be controlled by one faction or another and neither candidate holds power enough to 'get them in line'.

I once explained to Ms. Odell that she could easily win this race by reaching out to Democrats and progressive Republicans and win them over with three simple programs that would not alienate her 'bagger core but she said her strategists insisted there were enough Republicans dissatisfied with the Senator for her to win. If she should win, will she find support among the voters she has disenfranchised through thinking them not important enough to engage in the process? The Senator is just as guilty by the way, and bares equal responsibility for ignoring the vast majority of Putnam's voters as being unimportant.

In other words, the majority of voters in Putnam County are not important enough for either candidate as they wage an intense internecine battle for the hearts and minds of the minority.

If you are a Democrat or a blank or any other registrant aside from Republican this race has nothing to do with you and both candidates have made that abundantly clear. You do not count.

So, what to do? How to vote?

Some say that the Senator has the connections and experience to run the county. I see his tenure in Albany as a disaster evidenced by, well, Albany! While he insists he's only one voice and did what he could to change the system up there the evidence speaks otherwise. He has taken full advantage of his party's lead position in the Senate by enjoying the benefits of a huge multi-room office suite that ran up hundreds of thousands of dollars in costs each year and then bemoaned how unfairly he was being treated when he was relegated to a smaller, two-room suite when his party lost control of the Senate. This is the system. This is how it works up there and had he been interested in changing the way things work in Albany this could have been one small battle to fight - to remove the perks of party control over one house or the other. A small battle perhaps, but one that would have fundamentally changed the way Albany works for the better.

And then there's that $300,000 taxpayer funded bridge to nowhere and the hundreds of thousands more that went to his two non-profits here in the county. And yes, the Senator, whom years back I nicknamed "Uncle Vinnie" for every time you saw him he gave you money just like your favorite uncle, has brought home the bacon but the noise I'm hearing now from Republicans and 'baggers alike is to follow the model set by Assembly member Galef, to not accept earmarks.

Then we have Ms. Odell, a county legislator who was looking to run for the State Assembly but decided not to face off against Steve Katz when he refused to back down. And sure, Greg Ball was looking for someone to challenge the Senator with whom there is a public feud that rivals the Hatfield's and McCoy's save that this one isn't over a stolen pig, and Ms Odell fit his bill.

I have to hand Ms Odell the 2010 "Award for Incredible Bravery" for taking on this race for if she loses her political career is over for daring to challenge Putnam County's most powerful politician. She broke from the Senator's camp when she was treasurer of one of his non-profits taking leave (or being forced out depending on the story you hear) over concerns of how it was being run and I do not see reconciliation in my crystal ball though one never knows what's going on in those backrooms where Putnam Politics are done, especially when the Senator is involved.

But being in the Legislature and close to home she clearly has a better idea of what's going on here than does the Senator and on the surface seems a better fit for the County Executive's job.

So, what to do? I don't have a f*cking clue. Honest. As of this writing my inclination is to vote for myself. A friend who supports Ms. Odell tells me that a vote for myself is a vote for the Senator but then we come back to my belief in not voting for someone in order to vote against someone else.

Personally, I think I'd rock as county executive and unless one of the two reaches out in some tangible way, that's how I'll be voting and encourage you all to do the same. If you simply cannot make up your mind and you feel the county is screwed regardless of who wins in the end, write me in. Write yourself in. Apparently, to the balloted candidates you don't count anyway unless you are a registered Republican, so why vote for either one of them? And if you are a registered Republican and if your faction loses, what will happen then? Consider the penalties before you vote.

If you intend to vote for Mr. Leibell out of fear for your job or position, don't. Don't be bullied for you only make the bully stronger. If you're voting for Ms. Odell only to stop the bullying from the other faction, don't. I need you to vote FOR candidates, not against others and if you cannot find a really good reason to vote for someone, write me in. Write your dog in. Regardless, vote in any case. A large number of write-ins will let either winner know they are in the minority.

Congress:

At the Congressional level we have John Hall, a moderate Republican in Democrat clothing who reactionaries have inexplicably branded as a socialist! (I wish he was a socialist!) Yet his work on veteran's affairs has been so exemplary it should have earned him the nod from affected groups if they were of independent thought and mind and not working for the national Republican committee. He's running against right-wing Republican, Nan Hayworth, who has no original thought and parrots the NRCC message of the day and has proven through this campaign that she will do exactly what she accuses her opponent of doing: voting in strict lock-step with her party. That would be bad for each and every one of us - especially veterans - unless you happen to own stock in a health insurance company for which she is unabashedly shilling.
But we do have to make a choice here and this, for me, is almost as difficult as the Odell/Leibell race. Not that I'd ever vote for Ms. Hayworth, it's finding reasons to vote for Mr. Hall that I have trouble with.

When a coalition of disaffected progressives came together back in 2006 to run a candidate for Congress we backed John and saw him through a crowded primary field to victory. National Democrats had no interest in backing John as he was perceived as being too liberal and no one thought he had any chance whatsoever of beating banking and insurance industry favorite Sue Kelly. But he did win and that's because we were able to organize voters who supported his three-pronged efforts to end the wars, provide decent health care at a national level and set the nation on a course for a fossil fuel free future.

But I clearly remember the week before the election when the national party finally swooped in and took him away from those who worked for him, not even thanking us for our efforts. Chuck Schumer made sure John would be mainstreamed, his chief of staff was dictated by the Senator, and John fell further away from us, his progressive issues and positions lost in the belly of national party beast.

My friends who are die-hard Hall supporters keep insisting that he will one day come back to the fold but I'm not holding hope of that and I think even they know they are wrong.

But has he been a decent Congressman? As hard as it is for me to say so, yes. He's been pretty good as those things go. While he has been a complete disappointment to progressives he has done a fair job of running a decent office, providing constituent services and yes, fighting Republicans for every penny needed to treat existing veterans and those coming home from the wars. These are the "Support The Troops!" Republicans who vote for budget-busting dollars for wars but deny returning Vets even basic services. And imagine, it takes a Democrat to get these services.

Now, I hope all my progressive friends are sitting down for this: Sitting? Okay. I will be voting for John next Tuesday if only to reward him for the herculean task of pulling from Republicans that which they talk about freely giving and yet refuse at the same time.

If the nation insists on sending our children overseas to fight and die to keep Exxon rich and the war profiteers providing campaign funds we should at least have the decency of providing for these children when they come home. For children they are. Twenty-Two year old's should never see war and we owe them deeply for fucking up their lives. If you want to support the troops, why punish them and ignore them and shun them when they've done your bidding? And if it takes a relapsed progressive do to it, why the hell not.

If you are a Support The Troops kind of person and you are not voting for John Hall I would prefer you to stay home for your duplicity is simply stunning.

Other Local Races:

Other local races are more clearly defined and actually have candidates I would (or will) be happy to vote for.
There are three county Legislative races up this year. In the 5th District I see no reason why voters should not cast their votes for Jerry Furey over Carl Albano and that means you Republicans too. Jerry's a cool dude, has run a few times before and would be a  pretty effective and thoughtful Legislator. An educator, coming out of Lake Carmel he has been a stalwart defender of the lake against unnecessary development and knows the community and the district well.

The 9th legislative district in Mahopac presents Carmel town board member Anthony DiCarlo up against sitting legislator Tony Fusco. Tony has shown he's got the mettle to disturb the complacent nature of the Legislature while Mr. DiCarlo has not shown any desire to upset any apple-carts and seems quite happy with business as usual in that town, a municipality that could use a little political upsetting if not an outright revolution. The race is another one of these Leibell races where he has personally chosen and backed Mr. DiCarlo for he knows that if he should win the CE race and Mr. Fusco returns to the Legislature that questions will be asked and that would just ruin the Senator's day. Every day. As it should. The County Legislature needs independent voices - especially if Leibell wins and Mr. Fusco is one of those voices.

In the 99th Assembly district, Yorktown's Brendan Tully has proven himself a talented and successful community activist and would serve that district well in Albany.

In the 90th, Sandy Galef, now that she's changed her vote on marriage equality and who has proven over her career that she can work with anyone (yes, even me,) should be sent back to Albany. And, for you Republicans and 'baggers out there: she does not accept earmarks which I understand is a stated platform for your votes. Let's see if you are true to your words.

Governor:

Howie Hawkins is the Green party candidate for governor. He's not a racist. He's not the son of a former governor who feels entitled to the office. He's just a common dude working for the best that the Empire State can provide its citizens and its citizens to each other.
If elected, Mr. Hawkins would end the rebating of the stock transfer tax which would generate $16 billion in state income. He would enact a more progressive state income tax as opposed to the flat tax we have now that punishes the working classes for, well, working. That alone would bring in an additional $7.7 billion while reducing the income taxes for most New Yorkers.

For the record, the transfer tax was first enacted in 1907 and until 1981 the state kept those dollars. In an effort to keep Wall Street from moving to New Jersey the state decided to refund the tax each year to the companies that paid it. In essence, borrowing from Wall Street for the price of the interest income earned with the state losing altogether but the likes of Goldman Saks, making billions.

In an effort to reform Albany Mr. Hawkins parrots my oft-written need for a true multi-party system based on a proportional system that would generate consensus as opposed to compromise. Compromise in politics means everyone loses except the rich and powerful. Consensus would require everyone to agree.

Mr. Hawkins also proposes altering the rules of the state Legislature so that party control did not come with billions in perks and handouts.

Anyway, there's more and I encourage all of you to consider Mr. Hawkins for your vote come election day. I know he'll be getting mine and he should be getting yours too. I don't hear either one of the major candidates talking about anything other than each other. Mr. Hawkins is talking about you and our future and deserves your consideration and support.
The complete list of candidates on the ballot next Tuesday is here. (PDF)
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