New York State Vulnerable to Job Poaching

By Christopher St. Lawrence

RAMAPO - As I travel throughout New York State meeting with public and private sector leaders, two interrelated issues taxes and job creation are the main focus of our discussions. High taxes and utility costs are impeding the creation of new jobs and are making New York State vulnerable to so called “job poaching”. As the U.S. labor market tightened in the late 1990’s companies fought harder than ever to attract talented staff, poaching employees from cross-town competitors came into vogue.

Over the past decade, as unemployment and commercial vacancy rates have risen in places like Stamford, Connecticut and Morris County, New Jersey, they have stepped up their efforts to lure New York companies into their communities offering attractive tax incentive packages. Last year Pepsi Bottling Group was offered a $30 million incentive package to move its headquarters and more than 1,000 jobs from Westchester County to Connecticut. Several weeks ago I visited Kolmar Laboratories in Port Jervis which employs 500-700 local workers, and is now being courted by the states of Texas and Louisiana to relocate its facility. Kolmar officials contend that the “out-of-control” rising costs in New York will make it impossible for the company to compete and sustain operations. New York State’s “unfriendly” business environment has resulted in numerous businesses moving out of the state and very few moving in. To reverse this trend is perhaps the biggest challenge faced by New York State political leaders.

Several years ago Avon Products contemplated leaving the Town of Ramapo severing a relationship that had started in the late 1800’s. After meeting with Avon’s CEO Andrea Jung and assessing the company’s needs, I asked local political leaders from both sides of the aisle such as County Executive Scott Vanderhoef and NYS Senator Tom Morahan to join with me and craft a tax incentive package that would maintain the company’s presence in Suffern.

Avon’s new $120 million Research and Development Facility employs 350 high tech employees and is testament to the fact that bi-partisanship and creative problem solving produce positive results.

Creating new job opportunities and maintaining corporations such as Avon, Pepsi and Kolmar in State is an absolute necessity, and must be the top priority of local and state political office-holders. The future of New York State hangs in the balance.

Christopher St. Lawrence is supervisor of the Town of Ramapo.

ST. LAWRENCE ANNOUNCES HE'S RUNNING FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

Supervisor Christopher P. St. Lawrence of the Town of Ramapo in Rockland County formally announced today that he is running for Lieutenant Governor of the State of New York. St. Lawrence made his announcement outside Kolmar Laboratories in Port Jervis, which is in Orange County.

St. Lawrence is a 5-term Town Supervisor, 2-term Rockland County Legislator, Chairman of the Rockland County Solid Waste Management Authority, Chairman of the Ramapo River Watershed Council, and Vice Chairman of the Rockland County Sewer District #1. With 120,000 residents, the Town of Ramapo is the most populous town in the state outside of Long Island.

"New Yorkers crave change and require real relief," said St. Lawrence. "We need to resolve the problems of New York, recognize the potential of New York, and renew the promise of New York. We have to celebrate New York and focus on guiding this great state into the future. We must work collaboratively to strengthen our finances, lower our taxes, and protect our quality of life. Together, we can blaze a trail to a brighter future and a better state."

St. Lawrence said that his campaign will focus on economic development, creating new jobs, and reining in the rising property taxes that are crippling New Yorkers.

"We need to fire up New York's economic engine, generate jobs, and stabilize the state's finances," said St. Lawrence. "We have to implement economic development initiatives that will help solidify our state's financial framework and bolster the many small businesses throughout New York that are the lifeblood of our state. New Yorkers are hurting and we need throw them the economic lifeline that they desperately need."

As Supervisor of the largest and most diverse town in Rockland County, St. Lawrence has established a reputation as a hardworking and progressive leader who has initiated innovative programs that have improved the quality of life for Ramapo residents. St. Lawrence has successfully held the line on property taxes and strengthened the Town's finances, preserved thousands of acres of open space, enhanced Ramapo's parks and recreation programs, worked with local law enforcement to make Ramapo the safest town in America, and fought the rate hike proposals that would have increased Ramapo residents' monthly utility bills.

St. Lawrence hails from a family that has a long and distinguished record of community service. His late father, the Honorable Joseph T. St. Lawrence, was a New York State Assemblyman, a Rockland County Legislator, the Rockland County Treasurer and a Ramapo Councilman.

Kolmar Laboratories, which is the largest color cosmetics manufacturer in North America, employs 500 people, making it the largest employer in Port Jervis and one of the largest employers in Orange County. St. Lawrence noted that after making its home in Port Jervis for the past 66 years, Kolmar Labs may be forced to relocate out of state because the cost of doing business in New York State is considerably more than in other states. A move out of state would result in the loss of the 500 jobs that currently exist at the Port Jervis facility. St. Lawrence spoke about how critical it is to ensure that companies like Kolmar Labs remain in New York.

"We need to do everything we can to keep businesses in New York," said St. Lawrence. "Every time a company is forced to leave the state because it can no longer afford to do business in New York, our economy takes a direct hit. When hundreds of people suddenly find themselves out of work and on the unemployment line, the reverberations are felt in every corner of the state. We need to let people know that New York State is once again open for business."

St. Lawrence said that over the next several months he will be traveling throughout the state and meeting with elected officials, party leaders, senior citizens, and working men and women to discuss the challenges and issues facing them.

‘Thurgood Marshall Day’ in New York State

By Thomas Morahan

This month our nation recognizes the accomplishments of an important group of Americans. We have monthly celebrations because one of the best ways we can shape the future of our great state is to preserve what we value of our past.

So in February we salute African Americans, who, like so many groups, have a proud history and a rich heritage, and African American History Month provides us an opportunity to learn more about the role this important group has played in our nation's story.

With its focus on the values that have sustained African Americans through the centuries -- unity, purpose, creativity, and faith - African American History Month emphasizes the importance of the continued journey to build a society that fully lives up to its democratic ideals.

That is one of the reasons I sponsored legislation in the State Senate to honor Thurgood Marshall, one of the most renowned figures in the history of the civil rights movement in America and the first African American United State Supreme Court Justice, serving for 24 years between 1967 and 1991.

Thurgood Marshall is known by most Americans for his stellar representation of the NAACP before the Supreme Court in the matter of Brown vs. the Board of Education, which led the Supreme Court to declare the segregation of public schools illegal in the United States.

However, many who live in the Hudson Valley may be unaware that in 1943, Thurgood Marshall stood with a group of African American families and successfully argued for the desegregation of the Main School, now called Hillburn School, located in Hillburn, Rockland County.

The late Justice Thurgood Marshall was one of this country's premier champions of civil rights; he championed the most important premises of democratic government, freedom, equality, and justice for all and successfully utilized the courthouse to advocate for

and champion the cause of equal treatment under the law.

My legislation proclaims May 17^th of this year, and every year thereafter, Thurgood Marshall Day in the State of New York. It passed the New York State Senate on Feb. 2.

Thomas Morahan is a state senator representing Rockland County.

Graduate Course

By Alexander Gromack

NEW CITY - In the movie, The American President, Michael Douglas as the President of the U.S. says something like, “Democracy is a graduate course in government.”

I think his point, although it was just a movie, is well worth considering.

There are some nations where what you think and what you say can get you into a heap of trouble. Voice your disagreement with the ‘ruling’ party or those in power and you could end up in a dark little cell some place with a nice legal sounding name like the Hall of Justice. Write or get caught reading something critical about your government and you might end spending an inordinate amount of time and effort being ‘re-educated.’

Nations like that invariably call themselves the ‘Peoples Republic’ or similar names that are supposed to help us forget how they trample on human rights and convince us that they are really nice places to live. Surprisingly their misguided citizens are always finding innovative ways to sneak out of these paradises, sometimes risking their lives in the process.

We are, thank heavens a little different. In fact disagreeing with government is as American as apple pie. It’s an integral part of our national psyche. It sets us apart from most of the rest of the world. It is part of our responsibility as citizens in a free society.

Of course as with every other responsibility, some take it seriously and some do not.

Our constitution guarantees us a right to have our say without the threat of governmental reprisal. It doesn’t and it can’t guarantee that every thing we say is right.

The Freedom of Speech clause in the Bill Of Rights doesn’t have a truth test. It doesn’t require that what we say is true or based in fact. That opens the door to all sorts of abuses.

Therein lies the problem and I would guess the framers of our Constitution were well aware of it.

Once you give government, any government the right to censor what people say, you’ve started down the slippery slope to the ‘People’s Republic’ of somewhere.

The only choice left to a democratic society that wants to remain free is to protect and guarantee the freedom of speech regardless of what is being said about its government.

That leaves it up to us to separate the truth of what is being said from distortions, the facts from fiction, the exercise of good citizenship from demagoguery.

That’s hard. I guess Mike was right.

Alexander Gromack is supervisor of the Town of Clarkstown.

ENGEL LAUDS BREAKTHROUGH IN NORTHERN IRELAND

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The four co-chairs of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Irish Affairs in the House of Representatives, Eliot Engel (D-NY), Joe Crowley (D-NY), Peter King (R-NY), and Chris Smith (R-NJ), praised the recent announcement of the “Hillsborough Castle Agreement,” which represents a breakthrough in the Northern Ireland peace process.

The agreement lays out a pathway forward for local control of policing and justice powers in Northern Ireland with a series of steps aimed at complete devolution by April 12^th. Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown invested significant time and effort in hammering out the agreement, which took place in Hillsborough Castle in Belfast.

The four co-chairs issued the following statement:
"While more remains to be done, this announcement is an important and historic step forward towards ensuring long-lasting peace in Northern Ireland. We applaud the leaders who worked so hard to secure this critical accord, including Martin McGuinness and Peter Robinson. We also commend Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Prime Minister Gordon Brown for their tireless and courageous efforts in making the Hillsborough Castle Agreement a reality. We would also like to thank U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton for her steadfast leadership and involvement in the devolution process. The dream of peace and complete self-governance for the people of Northern Ireland is one step closer to reality today.”

Zebrowski Applauds Proposed Changes to MTA Payroll Tax

Proposal in Budget 21-day amendments would create a more equitable tax structure for Rockland County

NEW CITY - Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski, D-New City, applauds the governor’s proposal in his “21 day amendments” to his executive budget to implement a tiered payroll tax structure that takes in account the inequity between MTA services in New York City and the outer counties including Rockland.

The proposed amendments also exempt certain self-employed small business owners.

The new tiered tax structure will increase the tax rate for New York City businesses to 0.54 percent of payroll, up from 0.34 percent. All businesses outside of New York City, including Rockland County, will get the payroll tax rate cut in half to 0.17 percent. New York City businesses would now contribute 88 percent of all mobility tax revenues, up from 70 percent.

Rockland County currently has a value gap of about $60 million in taxes paid versus transportation services received from the MTA.

“Although the preference is to completely eliminate the payroll tax, I have been advocating for similar reforms that at a minimum addresses the inequality. This proposal recognizes the inequality of the original payroll tax on Rockland businesses,” said Assemblyman Zebrowski.

The other changes proposed to the MTA payroll tax is exempting self-employed individuals with income below $100,000, up from the current threshold of $10,000. This will exempt an additional 400,000 small business owners from the payroll tax.

“I strongly support these amendments to the MTA payroll tax,” Zebrowski said. “These changes will allow our businesses in Rockland County to either see a reduction in the tax or a complete exemption. Our fight for equality as a member of the MTA commuter district is not over but this is positive progress.”

New retail refund law helps consumers

By Thomas Morahan

I want to share with you some information that I received from the New York State Consumer Protection Board (CPB).They have asked that consumers be alerted to a new retail refund law, that is now in effect, that requires retailers to more clearly define and post refund policies, including restocking and other fees.
Inconspicuously posted refund policies previously left consumers in the dark when making purchases. These reforms remedy consumer complaints regarding refunds and will help ensure consumers have the opportunity to make more informed decisions in the marketplace.
The new refund law will give consumers stronger protections when spending their hard-earned money this holiday shopping season.“The public should now look for more robust store refund polices, which will in the long-run help strengthen the marketplace for retailers and consumers.
The amendments to the General Business Law addressed a significant loophole in the law, which was codified in 1977. The new provisions update the statute to reflect changes in the marketplace over the past three decades and are supported by the Retail Council of New York State. Restocking and other fees that have been applied by retailers are now identified in the law and must be fully disclosed.
The new State law now provides for the following:

Merchants must affirmatively post a refund policy. The new law removed the exemption which provided that merchants who do not post a refund policy are assumed to provide cash refunds for 20 days from the date of purchase, and thus were absolved from any posting requirement.
Customers are authorized to return any item for a full refund for up to 30 days from the date of purchase should the retailer fail to post a refund policy, as long as the buyer can verify the date of purchase with a receipt or any other purchase verification tool utilized by the merchant.
Retailers must make a written copy of the store’s refund policies available upon request and to post such availability on its refund policy signage.
Retailers must update their refund policy signage to provide consumers with advance notice if return of any purchase is subject to fees, and the exact dollar or percentage amount of such fees. This includes disclosing restocking fees, which the law defines as “any amount charged by a seller for accepting returned merchandise and issuing a refund or credit.”

A consumer tip sheet about the changes to the law and the new protections can be found at: www.nysconsumer.gov. To file a consumer complaint with the New York State Consumer Protection Board you can call the toll-free hotline at 800-697-1220.

Thomas Morahan is a state senator representing Rockland County.

Discover where your local tax dollar goes

By Christopher St. Lawrence

RAMAPO - Over the next several months, I will be meeting with public and private sector leaders throughout the State, discussing methods of stimulating economic growth and job creation. Without a doubt the three most important factors which have lead to millions of people and thousands of businesses exodus from New York State has been 1) Taxes – 2) Taxes – 3) Taxes, along with Unfunded State Mandates and the highest utility costs in the Country. Ever wonder where your specific local tax dollar goes? The following is a breakdown of a Ramapo Homeowner’s Tax Bill who lives in the Village of Sloatsburg:

Item Amount Percentage

School District $4,593.66 0.54%

Library 187.00 0.02%

General Town 371.21 0.04%

Police 899.62 0.11%

County 453.61 0.05%

Ambulance 81.76 0.01%

Household Hazard 6.25 0.00%

Solid Waste Disposal 63.68 0.01%

Green Waste 26.50 0.00%

Material Recovery 11.80 0.00%

Transfer Station 10.40 0.00%

Sewer District 120.52 0.01%

Village of Sloatsburg 1,311.20 0.16%

Garbage 316.45 0.04%

$8,453.66 1.00%

As you can see more than 50 cents out of every dollar this individual pays in taxes goes to fund Schools, with 16 cents going for Village Taxes, 11 cents for Police, 5 cents for County Taxes, 4 cents for Town Taxes, 4 cents for Garbage Collection, 2 cents for the Suffern and Sloatsburg Library, 1 cent for Solid Waste, 1 cent for Sewer District Waste Disposal, 1 cent for Ambulance and less than a penny each for County Household Hazardous Waste, Green Waste, Material Recovery and Transfer Station.

In the case of this taxpayer if he pays a Police Tax because the municipality he lives in uses Ramapo Police Services, in other municipalities such as Suffern and Spring Valley a Police Tax is charged by the Village and not the Town. I suggest that every taxpayer analyze their tax bills in this manner, to gain a better understanding of where their local tax dollar goes.

Golden Gloves Update: Saturday, January 23^rd at the Joseph T. St. Lawrence Community, Health & Sports Center, starting at 4:00 PM – Price: $20 Adults and $10 Senior Citizens & Children 14 & under. A limited amount of pre-sale tickets will be available in my office and tickets will also be sold at the door on the day of the event. More next week about this exciting event.

Christopher St. Lawrence is supervisorof the Town of Ramapo.

Find out about health code violations on your cell phone

NEW CITY - How many times do you wonder if a restaurant you’re taking your family to is truly safe? Now, you can put your worries to rest, thanks to a program started by Clarkstown Town Clerk David Carlucci that enables residents to check on a restaurant’s Health Code Violations from the convenience of their cell phone.

Text the number 41411 with the key word ‘RESTAURANT’ from any cell phone. In less then one minute, you will receive a text on your phone with a link to the Rockland County Health Department’s site for Health Code Violations. Type the name of any Rockland restaurant in the space provided and any violations will instantly display on your screen. Carlucci hopes that residents will take advantage of this program and enjoy Rockland’s many eating establishments with the power of information on their side. For further information contact David Carlucci at 845-639-2010 or visit www.clarkstownclerk.com.

Lowey Issues Aviation Security Recommendations in Letter to President Obama

Lowey: 9 steps to improve aviation security

WASHINGTON - Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), a senior member of the Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee and Select Intelligence Oversight Panel, today sent President Barack Obama a list of nine specific policy recommendations to close gaps in aviation security exposed by the Christmas Day attempted terror attack.

“The near miss we experienced with the attempted bombing of Flight 253 exposed continued deficiencies in our nation’s air security,” said Lowey. “After new laws and regulations and a governmental reorganization, the American people are baffled as to how a suspected terrorist in possession of explosives could board an international flight to the U.S.”

The recommendations are:

Requiring airlines to provide passenger lists to Customs and Border Protection 24 hours in advance;
Expediting implementation of Secure Flight, a program intended to improve watch-list matching of individuals on No Fly and Selectee lists;
Increasing deployment of Behavior Detection Officers at airports;
Expanding purchase of “whole body imaging” machines for use at airports;
Increasing the presence of TSA officers overseas;
Requiring Federal Air Marshals on all flights originating in “countries of interest;”
Mandating screening of not just passengers, but also employees, before entering secure and sterile areas of airports;
Reviewing all current visa holders against terror watch-lists to ensure no other terrorists have access to the United States; and
Expediting implementation of all-electronic nonimmigrant visa application system.

These recommendations are intended to complement changes President Obama has already ordered.

(TEXT OF LETTER)

January 13, 2010
The Honorable Barack Obama

President of the United States of America

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear President Obama:

As a New Yorker and the only member of Congress who has been a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, and the Select Intelligence Oversight Panel, I have attended over two hundred hearings and briefings on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and intelligence programs. As the White House coordinates policy changes in response to Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab’s attempt to bomb Northwest flight 253, it is imperative that the government not only address the failures in this case, but also other challenges we know could compromise our security. In addition to the changes you have ordered, I urge you to consider nine proposals.

Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS). The current mechanism for delivering passenger manifest lists to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) only 30 minutes prior to securing the doors of an international flight is unacceptable. This should happen at least 24 hours in advance to provide CBP personnel adequate time to clear all passengers before an aircraft has departed for the U.S.

I brought this loophole to CBP’s attention at a March 10, 2009, House Appropriations Committee hearing. When I asked then-CBP Acting Commissioner Jayson Ahern whether we should require airlines to provide information 24 hours in advance – the same requirement for incoming sea vessels – he responded, “Absolutely I do not think so.”

CBP identified Abdulmutallab as a person of interest via the Terrorist Identity Datamart Environment while flight 253 was already en route. Requiring airlines to use APIS earlier could have led to CBP identifying Abdulmutallab prior to his departure from Amsterdam. Even had DHS not had adequate information to prevent him from boarding a plane, DHS personnel could have requested that Dutch security utilize enhanced screening procedures that may have detected the explosive device.

Secure Flight. Full implementation of the Secure Flight program should be accelerated. For more than a decade the federal government has struggled to assemble an integrated information sharing and watchlist system for air travel. Since Fiscal Year 2002, the government has spent more than $437 million on Secure Flight and its predecessors, yet Secure Flight has still not been implemented.

The current iteration of Secure Flight is scheduled to be fully implemented by the end of 2010. The program should be accelerated to provide the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), CBP, and other relevant security agencies advanced traveler information when a reservation is made so that DHS can better and more efficiently ensure air passengers on international flights are admissible into the U.S.

Behavior detection. Congress has provided TSA with significant resources to increase the deployment of Behavior Detection Officers at airports. These personnel play a crucial role in identifying potentially dangerous individuals through non-intrusive means by detecting suspicious behavior as an individual proceeds through required security procedures. This method, also heavily relied upon in protecting Israeli airports and aircraft, must be significantly ramped up if we are to both deter and detect dangerous activities at our airports.

Technology. While TSA already has plans in place to purchase additional millimeter wave imaging technology units, or “whole body imaging” machines, your Fiscal Year 2011 budget request must include a considerable increase in funding for the purchase of these machines over what was previously planned. The American public appears ready and willing to undergo more intensive security screening in order to protect the traveling public; a USA Today/Gallup Poll released on January 11^thshows that 78 percent of Americans favor the use of this technology at our airports.

Overseas presence. TSA personnel stationed in foreign countries play a vital role in identifying and addressing security threats aboard aircraft bound for the U.S. Now more than ever before, it is necessary for personnel from TSA or other DHS agencies to be present at foreign exit points. Substantially increasing our human capital investments will ensure that we are better prepared to facilitate the gathering of intelligence abroad, more capable of coordinating with our allies and local law enforcement, and in the best position to catch terrorists before they reach a domestic entry point.

Air marshals. In conjunction with TSA personnel stationed around the globe and at our security checkpoints, Federal Air Marshals (FAMs) are on the front lines protecting passengers and aircraft in-flight. As TSA increases the levels of security screening at “countries of interest,” TSA must also work to ensure FAMs are present on all flights originating in these countries and destined for the United States.

Airport access. Dangerous flaws in the screening of airport personnel moving in and out of secure and sterile areas pose a significant risk. The only way to ensure that harmful materials are kept away from our aircraft is to require all individuals entering secure and sterile areas of airports to undergo security screening upon each entry. Screening employees for dangerous items that are not permitted beyond the security checkpoint takes direct aim at any insider threat and can be done with minimal disruption to airline and airport operations. Meticulously screening passengers but allowing employees free access to secure and sterile areas is like installing an expensive home alarm system but leaving your back door open.

Checks on current visa holders. In addition to the changes at DHS, I would insist that the State Department immediately review all current visa holders against appropriate watchlists to ensure no other potential terrorists have easy access to U.S. soil. The Administration should also establish a system that regularly crosschecks visa holders against the Terrorist Screening Database to ensure that dangerous terrorists are kept out of the U.S.

Electronic visas. Additionally, I urge you to ensure the expeditious implementation of an all-electronic nonimmigrant visa application system for all consular posts in calendar year 2010 and to request additional funding if necessary to meet this goal. Ensuring electronic visa applications will allow State to crosscheck visa applicants against watchlists prior to consular officer interviews with applicants.

These proposals are meant to complement changes you have already ordered. I look forward to working with your Administration to improve our nation’s security apparatus.

Sincerely,

Nita M. Lowey

RABBITT JOINS LAPIERRE FOR FIRST ANNUAL SPORTSMEN DAY

Albany event celebrates Second Amendment rights

Assemblywoman Annie Rabbitt (R,I,C-Greenwood Lake) recently joined with conservation, hunting, and firearms-rights advocates from around New York State to stand up for the Second Amendment. The first annual Sportsmen and Outdoor Recreation Legislative Awareness Day, sponsored by the Assembly Republican Conference, was held in Albany Tuesday and featured National Rifle Association CEO & Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre as its keynote speaker. Outdoors enthusiasts and groups in attendance, including several representing the Hudson Valley, had the opportunity to network with other sportsmen as well as meet with their elected officials.

“Today’s well-attended event is a reminder that sportsmen matter,” said Rabbitt. “In the mid-Hudson Valley fishing and hunting and outdoors recreation contribute tremendously to our local economy; each year, over $1 billion is generated by these activities statewide. The message is clear: Elected officials must continue to support the right of law-abiding citizens to possess firearms. Our Constitution, and our state’s economy, depend on it.”

Today’s Sportsmen and Outdoor Recreation Legislative Awareness Day was held in the Well of the State Legislative Office Building from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Rabbitt is a member of the Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development Committee, the principal committee for recreational hunting and fishing legislation in the New York State Assembly.

Vanderhoef starts fifth term at county exec

RAMAPO – With music, food and many of his close friends and political allies on hand, there was definitely a party atmosphere this week as County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef was sworn in for a fifth term in a standing-room-only ceremony at the Rockland Community College Technology Center.

But as Vanderhoef launched his new four-year term, he quickly pointed out that the coming days and months would not be a party as the county and the state come to grips with the bitter realities of the continuing national economic downturn.

However, Vanderhoef remained confident in saying Rockland with make it through the economic storm.

“The challenges here are unprecedented, but we are committed to meeting them head on and with confidence; that we will find a way to prevail and Rockland County will be stronger than we are today,” Vanderhoef said after his ceremonial swearing in by County Clerk Paul Pierato on Jan. 5. “ We cannot wallow in self-pity or fear, but look to self-renewal and reform – to think anew about present day challenges.”

Vanderhoef, a Republican who is Rockland’s second county executive, got to his fifth term by defeating Democratic challenger Thom Kleiner, who was Orangetown’s longtime town supervisor.

Rockland County Sheriff James Kralik, a fellow Republican who introduced Vanderhoef during the swearing-in ceremony, said Vanderoef has had success as county executive because of his willingness to work for all the people of Rockland County – not just to the benefit of one group or political party.

County Executive Scott Vanderhoef

Installation Ceremony Speech

Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010

Good Morning. Thank you Jim Kralik. Thank you Paul Piperato. Thank you Cliff Wood.

I am so very honored to have been elected by Rocklanders for another term. Growing up here, attending high school, it would have been hard to imagine such an honor. I am humbled by our citizen’s faith in me. And whether you supported me or not – I promise to serve all our residents.

The full time job of leading our county government and its 2,700 employees provides regularly changing challenges and though often difficult, is most rewarding. County government is where government health and human services are provided.

And yet I must share with you that during my extended tenure here, this is the most challenged we’ve been.

State mandated costs continue to rise – Medicaid costing 110% of our county property tax- revenues from sales tax, and mortgage tax falling precipitously as the economy falters and sputters. Simultaneously more of our residents need help – housing, food stamps, Medicaid, day care; the list goes on and on.

Add to these rather bleak statistics NY State our partners in health and human services provisions is facing a daunting $9 billion gap for this next year as a result of leadership that either ignored the dire condition of the state’s financial health or chose to ignore the economic realities of our country, or both.

Our county government will see a small profit in 2009 as a result of sharply reduced spending and help with one-shot revenue increases. Overall, however, the county needs to improve its financial strength in particular re-building its surplus (undesignated fund balance) while at the same time coping with whatever drastic action are taken in Albany to balance the budget and preserve needed services.

The challenges here are unprecedented, but we are committed to meeting them head on and with confidence; that we will find a way to prevail and Rockland County will be stronger than we are today. We cannot wallow in self-pity or fear, but look to self-renewal and reform – to think anew about present day challenges.

Although financial challenges will be paramount, we must not forget that we are here to serve our residents. That’s the “product.” And the items to be measured for determination of customer satisfaction; to meet and exceed customer expectations, to continually improve and innovate. This has been the approach of this administration since 1994. We have used the Total Quality Management model to continue to improve. We will not rest on our laurels, but we will build upon them.

We cannot overlook the broader issues in the coming months – we must plan for the future even while wrestling with issues of the day.

The development of the County’s Comprehensive Plan, the creation of a new I-287 corridor, and construction with a new bridge. The challenges of a gracefully but dramatically growing senior population, the need for a state of the art County nursing home – a place of first and last resort for our elderly, we need to promote environmentally compatible sustainable economic development, and a new or changed partnership for MTA transportation services.

We need to grow jobs even as many are being lost, at places like Wyeth/Pfeizer. To grow jobs we must at the state level as well as our local level to aggressively attack the property tax burden among other things. First and foremost is a State cap on our school property tax, mandate relief, and circuit breakers for excessive taxes on those who can least afford it. This County has drastically cut expenditures to address declining revenues. Now the State must follow our lead.

All of the above is part of the dizzying array of challenges and related opportunities in the coming years. We will be up to the task.

I am grateful to have a challenging but gratifying job and the support of a great team of dedicated government workers.

I am here to serve the public and have been for the past 16 years. But we are temporary stewards of the public trust. At some point my time as County Executive will be over, but I want to be able to look back and say – we met the challenges that were confronted, that the county is a better place for having served as County Executive, and that county services can be characterized as our mission charges – “To serve the people of Rockland County well by providing needed services in a high quality, ethical, courteous, timely and cost-effective manner.” With our sights set high, now its tome to get back to work.

In closing, let’s pause to honor all of those who have served our Country in the armed forces, and in particular those in battle today to preserve the interest of the United States.

Happy and Healthy New Year. Thanks again for coming. God bless the County and our Nation.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, left, congratulates Rockland County Legislature Chairwoman Harriet Cornell, right, on her re-election as head of the legislature.

Cornell gets sixth term as Legislature leader

NEW CITY – Rockland County Legislator Harriet D. Cornell has been elected to serve as the chairwoman of the Legislature for an unprecedented sixth term.

Cornell, a Democrat who has been a legislator since 1984, became the first woman to serve as head of the Legislature in 2005.

“I thank my fellow Legislators for their confidence in electing me chairwoman for a sixth year,” said Cornell, who was applauded by the standing-room-only audience at the Legislature Chambers in New City – where she was cheered on by supporters who included U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer and U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey.

“As we begin the New Year, we are largely concerned with the same issues that preoccupied our thoughts at the beginning of 2009: the economy,” Cornell said. “Amid such an awful economy, all citizens have the right to ask their elected officials two key questions: ‘Are you being fiscally responsible? Are you doing everything you can to help us?’ In the case of Rockland County, I can confidently answer ‘yes’ to both of those questions. Our Legislature, working with the County Executive, has shaved our work force by 317 positions; we reduced the amount of county property taxes, proposed in the Executive’s budget, by half, so that the increase is 2.3%, or approximately $14 per average household. The need to do more with less during hard economic times is always accompanied by an increase in the need for social services, and we have been able to respond to the needs of the many that are directly impacted by this recession through the tireless work of our county departments and partner agencies to ensure that no child, no adult, abled or disabled, falls through the cracks of our societal safety nets. ”

In her address to the Legislature during ceremonies on Tuesday, Jan. 5, Cornell placed focus on the coming year and beyond by promising that Rockland would continue to take the lead in devoting time, money and energy to educating its children of all ages through investment in pre-K education and afterschool programs with the goal to reach the most at-risk children, to increase graduation rates and cut criminal behavior. Cornell will recommend an affiliation between Rockland’s Homeland Security Task Force and the newly formed Mission Readiness, a national organization of retired U.S. Generals and Admirals and other military, which supports policies and advocates for funding to help young people get the right start in life, develop future leaders and safeguard our national security.

Cornell, long an advocate for development of children and youth, played a leading role in the creation of Rockland Schools of the 21^st Century (“Rockland 21C”), which she has chaired for more than a dozen years. This collaborative organization focuses on the optimal development of every child. Through this collaboration of family, school, community and government, thirty Rockland schools now have family resource centers with access to social services, health services and literacy programs for all family members including a home visitation program for 2- and 3-year olds.

Cornell vowed to continue to address the transportation issues facing Rockland - the FAA Airspace Redesign Plan, the TZ Bridge/I-287 corridor and inclusion of rapid transit options, and the value gap between monies paid to the MTA versus benefits received, by far the largest gap in the service region.

Cornell pledged that the Legislature will continue to work to develop a comprehensive plan, a guide for the future of the county and a responsibility delegated by State law. “Under state law,” said Cornell, “towns and villages - not counties - have zoning powers, so this plan cannot and will not infringe on those powers. It will, however, pay attention to issues under county jurisdiction and place emphasis on the future of housing, transportation and services for our aging population, continuing the Project Tomorrow: Aging in Place initiative started here two years ago.”

Cornell said the County Legislature is one of the few governmental bodies in the state which puts political party labels aside in order to work together to benefit the community and thanked the Legislative Committee Chairs “who have provided great leadership” - Michael Grant, Economic Committee; Alden Wolfe, Government Operations; Bob Jackson, Planning and Public Works; Connie Coker, Environment; Phil Soskin, Multi-Services; Jay Hood, Public Safety, and Ilan Schoenberger, Budget and Finance. She has reappointed them as Chairs of their respective committees.

“Though many challenges lie ahead,” said Cornell, “Rockland County government is fiscally responsible and is doing what government is supposed to do. It is working well, and it is working for the public. I would like historians to say 50 years from now that the Rockland County Legislature had the vision, even during hard times, to strengthen the bonds of community, preserve our land, art and history, foster education and understanding, conserve resources and build a secure future for every man, woman and child fortunate enough to live here.”

Legislator William Darden (district 8) was re-elected to serve as vice chairman of the Legislature, also for a sixth consecutive year, and Legislator Robert Jackson was sworn in to represent District 14. Jackson was appointed in October 2008 to the district position and won election in November 2009.

Full version of Chairwoman Cornell’s address follows:

January 5, 2010

Good evening.

Thank you, my fellow Legislators, for your confidence in electing me for a sixth year as your Chairwoman. And thank you, Michael for your eloquence in nominating me. My thanks also to Bill and Ilan for your kind words and friendship. I am ever-mindful of the trust you have placed in me as your leader. In my experience this county legislature is one of the few governmental bodies in the state which puts political party labels aside in order to work together to benefit our community. I congratulate all of us for that. Thank you to a great legislative staff headed by Larry Toole.

Congratulations to Bob Jackson who won election to his seat. The people of the 14th Legislative District recognized a champion who has been working for them for years as President of the Nanuet Civic Association and most recently in the seat held by our late colleague, VJ Pradhan. Bob is a great human being, a great asset to the Legislature and a great support to me.

Congratulations also to our County Executive who was re-elected to a 5th term. In the face of anti-incumbent results in other counties, Scott showed he has the confidence of the electorate. I look forward to a continued partnership to serve the best interests of the people of Rockland.

I especially want to thank my beloved family—Keith and Carrie; my grandsons Robin and Skyler whom I love so much and who make me so proud to be their grandma. Of course I would not be who I am without the unselfish lives of my parents and husband Martin as inspiration.

Thank you to my dear friend, the Reverend Doctor Willie Hairston, who provided the invocation the first year I became Chairwoman and will celebrate his 20th anniversary with Pilgrim Baptist Church this year.

And my heartfelt thanks to the brilliant musicians who are performing tonight: Avi Nagin: What a thrill it was to see him perform at Carnegie Hall as 1st violin and Concertmaster with the NY Youth Symphony. Lindsay McCandless, former student at Rockland Conservatory of Music, now studying to be a teacher at the College of St. Rose in Albany; and Marigene Kettler, the Executive Director of the Rockland Conservatory of Music, whose voice will thrill us as we conclude this meeting.

Thank you for coming: Senator Schumer, one of this nation’s most influential U.S. Senators, who visits the county many times a year, helping with rail safety, housing for veterans and much more. Congresswoman Lowey, a great friend to Rockland and a longtime personal friend, who annually insures that we receive federal funds for the interoperable communications system so desperately needed for our public safety.

RCC President Cliff Wood, Wylene Wood and Dr. Arlene Clinkscale—people who have made a lasting impact on the life and education of Rockland. Thank you, Enid Weishaus, representing Senator Gillibrand; Willie Janeway, Region 3 New York State DEC; Elijah Reichlin-Melnick representing Congressman Eliot Engel; Senator Tom Morahan, former Chair of this Legislature; Supervisors, Mayors, and friends all.

As we begin a new year, we are largely concerned with the same issue that preoccupied our thoughts at the beginning of last year: the economy. And amid such an awful economy, all citizens have the right to ask their elected officials two key questions: “Are you being fiscally responsible? And are you doing everything you can to help us?” In the case of Rockland County, I can confidently answer yes to both of those questions.

Our Legislature, working with the County Executive, has cut to the bone, shaving our work force by 317 positions. We were able to reduce the amount of county property taxes in the Executive’s budget by half, so that the increase is 2.3%, or approximately $14 per average household. I applaud the leadership and hard work of Budget & Finance Chair, Ilan Schoenberger, to make that happen. Thank you Chris Kopf and Nicole Doliner for your help also.

As a result of that fiscal prudence, and thanks to the dedication of county employees who are doing double or triple duty, we are still maintaining essential services. This also means responding instantly when unexpected crises loom, as we did at the request of Commissioner Joan Facelle to ensure Health Department readiness if there is an outbreak of Swine Flu.

In addition, we have been able to respond to the needs of many directly impacted by this recession. We are cautiously optimistic that the recession is ending, but so far, the jobs have not come back.

Department of Social Services Commissioner Sue Sherwood reports that over the last two years, the number of cases of Rockland residents eligible for government support increased by 50%. There are currently 11,133 families receiving food stamps, representing a total of 31,211 men, women and children—and the numbers are surging daily with people who never needed such help before.

In our budget, we were able to restore partial funding to our partner agencies. With the economic downturn, these agencies have all experienced an increase in clients coupled with a decrease in funding. They work tirelessly with our county departments to ensure that no child, no adult--abled or disabled-- falls through the cracks of our societal safety nets. Their services could not be provided by county government at the same low cost.

A survey revealed that the economic impact of Rockland not-for-profit agencies that deliver social services, enrich the arts and cultural landscape, and protect the environment was more than $1 billion in 2006. 208 agencies in the study produced more than $779 million in revenue, employed 11,000 people, and brought in hundreds of millions of dollars through grants and contracts, with almost $20 million added value from volunteer hours. We owe them great thanks

In other words, Rockland County government is fiscally responsible and is doing what government is supposed to do. It is working well, and it is working for you.

And in light of the economic difficulties, I am very proud of all the Legislature accomplished last year, such as help for homeowners facing foreclosure; extension of exemptions to cold war veterans; the many green initiatives including a sustainable procurement policy and the purchase of only fuel efficient vehicles—new hybrid electric buses are now on the roads; business-friendly initiatives which include support for our Empire Zone and continued IDA tax exempt financing for civic projects; our resolutions urging state creation of a Rockland-Bergen Bi-State River Commission—with kudos to Bob Dillon, Phil Bosco, and all the citizen activists who are determined to prevent future flooding devastation; the Silver Alert program to protect seniors, and the reaffirmation of this county’s commitment to the arts.

I thank Committee Chairs who have provided great leadership: Michael Grant, Economic Committee; Alden Wolfe, Government Operations; Bob Jackson, Planning and Public Works; Connie Coker, Environment; Phil Soskin, Multi-Services, Jay Hood, Public Safety; and Ilan Schoenberger, Budget and Finance—with great thanks for a job well done. My first act of 2010 is to reappoint you to another term. We in the Legislature owe great appreciation to a talented staff, headed by Larry Toole

The achievements I mentioned and many others can be read and rejoiced over on the County website. Tonight, I want to focus on the coming year and beyond.

As elected officials, we have a moral imperative to ensure that each of our residents has the opportunity for a full and rewarding life. This is not because of compassion, although that is true as well. It is because that is the only way to ensure security for all residents.

On November 5 of this past year, United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan stood with 90 retired U.S. Generals and Admirals to push for greater investments in high quality learning programs .Why? Because 75% of Americans from the ages of 17-24 are unable to serve in the military because they failed to graduate from high school, they had a criminal record, or they were physically unfit. 75%! That is a breathtaking number.

In other words, there is a direct correlation between our national security and our willingness to invest in our children. The retired military brass, including former Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs and a NATO Supreme Commander, are members of a new organization called Mission Readiness which supports policies and funding to help young people get the right start so they can succeed in life.

As Major General James W. Comstock, a political conservative, said, “Early education is not conservative common sense or liberal common sense—it’s just plain common sense. Reaching the most at-risk kids helps increase graduation rates and cut crime, so early education is a matter of national security.”

It is also a matter of fiscal responsibility. Every dollar invested in pre-K education brings back seven dollars. Rockland 21C runs a literacy-based Parent Child Home Visitation program for 2 and 3 year olds that enables children from low income families to enter school on par with their more affluent peers.

Every dollar invested in after-school programs saves taxpayers three dollars. Children who attend quality after-school programs have better grades and behavior in school, are more likely to graduate, and experience less drug-use, violence and pregnancy. And for those youth who do fall into crime, in New York, it costs an estimated $210,000 per year to confine a juvenile to a state residential facility. That is almost ten times the cost of the most expensive community-based intervention.

So the lesson is very clear: Investing in our children is not a waste of taxpayers’ money. It is a saving of taxpayers’ money. It is also a matter of vital national security, and it is an action every civilized, decent and humane society is compelled to make. Rockland is a leader in this area and will continue to devote time, money and energy to educating our children of all ages and at all times.

Senator Schumer, Congresswoman Lowey and all the federal representatives here: please be advised that a major application for the new federal Innovations grant money will be forthcoming from Rockland 21C which for 14 years has pioneered a unique suburban community school model with family, school, community and government working together. We will need your assistance so we can help more children reach their optimal development.

Furthermore, I am going to recommend that Rockland’s Homeland Security Task Force expand its own mission and adopt Mission Readiness goals, by working with 21C, our Youth Bureau, educators and other professionals in the field of early childhood education and youth development to guarantee able and intelligent future leaders --and a continued strong national security.

Another major component of a full and rewarding life involves transportation, but as we have painfully learned, federal agencies can dictate plans that ignore quality of life issues for localities: witness the FAA Airspace Redesign Plan which we are vigorously contesting-- and presently seeking relief from the U.S. Supreme Court. I applaud the efforts of citizen activists like John Tormey III and Tom Sullivan of Quiet Rockland for their passion and efforts.

We know the massive studies done on TZ Bridge/I-287 corridor will change the face of Rockland, but—unlike the days of Robert Moses-- the State agencies created Stakeholder Working Groups to take input from residents and have submitted themselves to scrutiny and public dialogue through the Summits I have arranged over the past five years. Change will come, but we have a voice in what that change will be. Many of our communities have seen this as an opportunity to plan for their future with the state’s help. And, the addition of rapid transit will take us out of our cars and prove to be a good thing for our county.

And of course, there’s the MTA. Of all 12 counties in the MTA district, the value gap between monies paid and benefits received is largest in Rockland County. That has to end. The $18 million mobility tax added insult to injury and caused us to consider once again leaving the MTA. I am pushing to have MTA jobs, currently outsourced to Florida and Illinois, moved to Rockland County. In addition, in 2008, Metro North and NJ Transit agreed to work together on a strategy to increase and enhance Rockland rail service. Now, MTA/Metro North is cutting back on popular transit enhancements on the Pascack Valley line. I am sure every legislator will support the pending resolution calling for these service cuts to be rescinded. And we welcome help from Rockland’s representative on the MTA Board, Carl Wortendyke,

As leaders, we owe all our residents an environment that is pristine, breathable, and free from unplanned sprawl. State law delegates to the county Legislature the responsibility to develop a comprehensive plan, and we have accepted that responsibility. Under state law, towns and villages—not counties--have zoning powers. So this plan cannot and will not infringe on those powers. But county government must address matters under its jurisdiction: the land we own, the streams we control, the protection of critical environmental areas, water quality and quantity, job creation and retention, the replacement of aging infrastructure, transportation-- and more.

This Comprehensive Plan is our chance to guide the future of our county for our children and grandchildren. We will be conferring regularly with municipalities as the draft plan progresses. Nothing will be in this Plan that has not been approved by this body. The alternative to a County Comprehensive Plan is no plan at all, or the continued use of an unapproved plan. I want to thank Michael Grant and Ric McKay for representing the Legislature on the Comprehensive Plan Task Force, working with Commissioner Corallo, the excellent staff of County Planning and the CE’s office.

As a result of an initiative started here two years ago, Project Tomorrow: Aging in Place, an emphasis has been placed in the Comprehensive Plan on the future needs of our aging population. Much information will come from a Report I am completing based on testimony from seniors, stakeholders and experts on aging, a Community Visioning Forum and a Walkability Study, the latter two done in partnership with the AARP of New York.

This report will detail existing challenges and offer realistic recommendations for implementation by public and private sectors. This County is all the richer for the contributions made by older people who work, volunteer and provide the multi-generational families which so define Rockland. We want them to stay.

We are blessed in this beautiful county, thanks to the vision of those who came before: people who saw to it that one-third of our land mass was preserved as parkland, never to be developed; people who had the foresight to create Rockland Community College; people who saw needs in their families and communities and created agencies which brought hope and relief to suffering individuals; people who brought the creativity of artists, writers, actors and musicians to Rockland where the arts now thrive; people who came as immigrants like Sal Marasa, who devoted his life to the community he loved so much, reminding us how we are all enriched by the cultural and ethnic diversity of Rockland; and people like Tom Casey whose knowledge of Rockland’s history was not only incomparable, it brought us that sobering realization that our actions -- or our inactions-- will live after us.

Many challenges lie ahead, but I would like historians to say 50 years from now that the Rockland County Legislature had the vision, even during hard times, to strengthen bonds of community, presere our land and art and history, foster education and understanding, conserve resources and build a secure future for every man, woman and child fortunate enough to live here.

It is my honor to serve again as Chairwoman of the Rockland County Legislature. Thank you.

Senate Democratic leadership names Republican Morahan to lead committee

ALBANY – State Senate Majority Conference Leader John L. Sampson has appointed two Republican senators to major committee chairmanships, including state Sen. Thomas P. Morahan, R-New City.

Morahan was appointed chairman of the Committee on Mental Health and Hygiene, and Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane, was appointed chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Telecommunications.

“Never before has it been more important for us to put partisanship aside and renew our commitment to putting the people first,” said Sampson. “These are thoughtful and principled senators who have worked with our members in the past to implement smart policies that benefit all New Yorkers. They are also dedicated and engaged members of this Chamber who can bridge the gap that crippled this body for too long. The steps we have taken today will make the Senate a more bipartisan, and effective institution for the people of New York.”

Sampson described Morahan as a smart and effective public servant, committed to working in a bi-partisan fashion.

“Senator Morahan and I have served as co-chairs for the Hudson Valley Delegation these past several months and during that time I've witnessed first-hand the Senator's interest in welcoming diverse dialogue in an effort to find sensible solutions to improve the quality of life of New Yorkers in our districts and across the state," said state Senator Jeff Klein, D-Bronx/Westchester, Senate deputy majority leader.

"My work in the area of mental health is one of the most rewarding and enriching experiences of my life and, as Chair of the Mental Health Committee, I look forward to partnering with the advocates and others who share this passion,” said Morahan. “Senator Sampson and Senator Klein are my friends, as well as public servants who understand that a good idea is not Republican or Democrat. I'm pleased to work with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to restore integrity to this great Chamber and focus on sensible public policy for the upcoming legislative session."

St. Lawrence: Cable viewer should get rebates for missing shows

RAMAPO - Three million Cablevision subscribers in the New York metropolitan area, including thousands from Rockland County, were “alerted” on New Year’s Eve that two of their favorite channels – the Food Network and Home & Garden Network would no longer be broadcast by Cablevision starting at midnight.

Reminiscent of their impasse with the YES Network over broadcasting Yankee Games several years ago, Cablevision and the Scripps Network are battling over how much the cable operator will pay Scripps for carrying the Food Network and HGTV. Both sides have begun playing the “blame game” on websites, in print and the TV media. This corporate feud over revenue is of secondary concern to me. What concerns me the most is Cablevision’s callous disregard for their loyal customers, and the public officials who sign off on their franchise agreements. Rest assured that when Cablevision wants a renewal of its franchise agreement, it does not wait until hours before the franchise expires to notify municipalities.

In this economic climate, many families do not have the financial means to go to live theater, films, concerts, etc. – much of their discretionary income is spent on home entertainment, principally cable TV. While the average cable subscriber has a glut of channels to choose from, channels such as the Food Network and HGTV are among the most popular and informative.

I have filed a formal complaint with the New York State Public Service Commission for Cablevision’s Violation of Part 890 of Public Service Law 224-a, which stipulates the following:

“Every cable television company shall provide notice to subscribers of any change in rates; programming services or channel positions as soon as possible through announcement on the Cable System and in writing.”

Since the removal of the Food Network and HGTV is a significant change in programming, I am requesting that subscribers receive a rebate for the loss of these services.

NEW YORK'S GREAT APPLIANCE SWAP-OUT

By Thomas Morahan

I am very pleased to inform you that in February 2010, New York State residents can participate in the Great Appliance Swap-Out, a program designed to provide a boost to New York's economy while providing an incentive for consumers to reduce their energy consumption. Under the program, residents will be able to receive a cash rebate for replacing older appliance(s) with a new ENERGY STAR^®-qualified appliance. This program, funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), will also provide added incentives for consumers who recycle their old appliances to help reduce the impact on landfills.
Under New York State's proposed plan, consumers can receive rebates for purchasing eligible appliances individually or in a bundle of three specific appliances. Only appliances with an ENERGY STARÂ® label denoting higher efficiency are eligible for a rebate. Consumers may receive a larger rebate by purchasing three eligible appliances that meet standards issued by the Consortium of Energy Efficiency (CEE) that are higher than ENERGY STAR standards.
As proposed, customers purchasing appliances would qualify for a rebate of $75 ($105 with documented recycling) for ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators, $75 ($100 with documented recycling) for clothes washers and $50 ($75 with documented recycling) for freezers. Rebates are available for dishwashers when they are purchased as part of a three-appliance package (refrigerator, dishwasher, clothes washer), which may qualify for a $500 rebate ($555 with documented recycling).
For further information, please refer to www.nyserda.org/economicrecovery/appliance.asp .

Thomas Morahan is a state senator representing Rockland County.

What’s The Point?

By Alex Gromack

I remember growing up believing that the United States was the world’s leader in science and technology. After all we landed two men on the moon while most other countries were still trying to perfect the flip top cigarette pack.

Those were the days when the rest of the civilized world counted on the good old U.S. of A to keep them up to date and current with all the new fangled thingamajigs, hoodickies and whadumacallits.

Yep, we had it all and everybody else wanted it.

Then, almost overnight or so it seemed, some other countries, Johnny come ‘latelies’ actually, jumped into the world market with some measurable degrees of success. Truth is, these interlopers have gotten so good that even our most trusted “Buy American’ brands end up with parts made somewhere else.

Today, you can, if you have half a mind to, Google a picture of your house snapped from space; watch the Search For Spock on your HDTV; launch your browser from your blackberry or spend an hour or so traversing nameless local roads while a faceless and increasingly annoying Australian voice advises you that ‘she’ is recalculating your route..again.

In fact, when it comes to shopping some of us good old boys shamelessly look at some of the ‘foreign’ technology before we glance at the home grown variety. The imported items are usually, how do you say, cheaper, tend to have more bells and whistles and seem to get higher marks from consumer organizations for reliability and customer satisfaction.

So it appears that we may no longer be the undisputed number one in technology.

However, when one door closes another opens. We are the ‘can do’ country. We cannot tolerate being number two and will stop at nothing to be number one again in something…anything.

We are, thankfully, already on our way.

A group of scientists at the Marine Biological Institute at Woods Hole, Massachusetts funded by $250,000 of federal funds are teaching fish to catch themselves by swimming into nets.

This little known project, if successful, will make commercial fishing more productive, more efficient and, oh yeah, far more profitable.

We will be number one again. We will be the world wide fish catching king.

We’ll have something that everyone else will want.

Of course not all the glitches have been worked out. Before you can train the fish to swim into nets by themselves you have to catch them first in...well nets.

But that’s not the point.

Alex Gromack is supervisor of the Town of Clarkstown

Lowey: Airlines Should Provide Passenger Lists
24 Hours Before Flights

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) has pledged to introduce legislation requiring airlines to transmit passenger lists to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at least 24 hours in advance of international flights arriving in the United States in response to a report CBP could have stopped Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab from boarding flight 253 had they had more time to review the list.

“It is outrageous that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was a known threat and could have been stopped from boarding the plane had CBP had more time to review the passenger list,” said Lowey. “I intend to introduce legislation immediately requiring airlines to give our front-line security personnel more time to intercept and stop known or suspected terrorists.”

In a March 10, 2009, Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security hearing, Lowey told CBP Acting Commissioner Jayson Ahern she had recently toured JFK Airport and was concerned CBP often received passenger lists from airlines only 30 minutes before flight departed for the U.S., giving officers little time to review lists for known or suspected terrorists. She asked whether airlines should provide passenger lists 24 hours in advance of international flights arriving in the United States, as incoming sea vessels are required to do.

Acting Commissioner Ahern replied, “Absolutely I do not think so in the air environment.”

“It should be obvious that 30 minutes is not enough time for CBP officers to screen hundreds of passengers,” said Lowey. “That is why I voiced this concern nearly a year ago. Now that we know beyond a shadow of a doubt this is a valid concern, I intend to introduce legislation immediately closing this gaping loophole.”

Job creation is New York’s greatest challenge

By Christoper St. Lawrence

RAMAPO - Americans are increasingly stuck in place due to the recession of the last two years which has resulted in the nation’s mobility rate being the lowest since World War II. For employers this means workers may be harder to find, and thus likely to be more costly. For people today the freedom to seek out better opportunities has faded, many unemployed workers are tethered to homes they cannot sell. Forty percent of the people in the U.S. who relocate across state lines are in their 20’s, thus states like New York are left with an aging workforce, which impedes economic growth and job creation.

Economic decline in New York State has been taking place for decades. In the 1950’s one out of three workers in N.Y.S. was employed in the manufacturing sector, by 1970 it was one out of four. Over the course of the last half-century upstate cities have lost nearly half of their population. Buffalo in 1950 had 600,000 residents; today it has fewer than 300,000.

Approximately two million New Yorkers have left the state over the last decade. Obstacles to a business friendly environment remain – high property taxes, the lack of mandate relief, over-regulation and the high cost of energy. We at the local level are absorbing the trickle down economic effects of these trends. The burden shifting of taxation from the federal and state levels has fallen on the shoulders of local taxpayers. My two major priorities in 2010 are increasing economic development and job growth in the Town of Ramapo. I plan to use the following strategies:

1) Continue to develop promotional programs underscoring Ramapo’s business friendly climate, safety and award winning exploits.

2) Visit civic and business leaders throughout the state discussing the best practices they are utilizing to stimulate economic growth.

3) Continue to reduce the expenditure side of the Town Budget, reducing our workforce by attrition and keep taxes down.

Economic development and job growth are my priorities for the coming year, as they should be nationwide. I’m wishing you and your family a Healthy and Happy New Year.

Christopher St. Lawrence is supervisor of the Town of Ramapo.

Federal homebuyer tax credit cash advances for eligible SONYMA borrowers

By Thomas Morahan

This new year New York State is offering cash advances of up to $8,000 on the Federal homebuyer tax credit for borrowers using a State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA) mortgage to purchase a home.

Homebuyers will be able to use SONYMA's new Tax Credit Advance Loan (TCAL) toward their down payment or closing costs. The advance can be repaid without interest when homeowners receive their Federal homebuyer tax credit after filing their annual tax return. SONYMA, a State agency that provides competitive interest rate mortgages to low- and moderate-income homebuyers.

I believe this new program will encourage homeownership throughout New York State and provide an important boost to our economy. Reviving the housing market is vital to generating economic activity and the tax revenues the State and local governments need to provide vital services.

Under the Federal program recently extended by Congress, first-time homebuyers who purchase a home before July 1, 2010, are eligible to receive a Federal tax credit of up to $8,000. The income limit for this program is $125,000 for single taxpayers and $225,000 for married couples filing joint returns. (Existing homebuyers are eligible for a Federal tax credit of up to $6,500.) For details on the Federal tax credit program, visit: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=187935,00.html

A TCAL advance loan will be available to potential homeowners using any currently available SONYMA mortgage program. Borrowers can apply for a TCAL loan when they apply for a SONYMA mortgage at a participating lender. After approval of the loan application, SONYMA will advance a TCAL loan (based on their maximum Federal tax credit) to borrowers on the home closing date. Homeowners will receive their tax credit from the Federal government in the spring of 2011, at which time they can repay the SONYMA TCAL loan without interest.

If the TCAL loan is not fully repaid by June 30, 2011, it will be amortized over 10 years at 1% above the interest rate on the borrower's SONYMA first mortgage. Monthly payments on the TCAL loan will be due starting August, 2011. In effect, the TCAL loan will become a 10-year second mortgage if it is not repaid by June 30, 2011.

As with all SONYMA programs, income and purchase price limits will apply to participants of the TCAL program. However, SONYMA's first-time homeowner requirement will not apply to U.S. military veterans or borrowers purchasing a home in a Federally-designated "target" area, which is a census tract that is economically distressed.

For more details on SONYMA's TCAL program, please visit http://www.nyhomes.org.

Thomas Morahan is a state senator representing Rockland County.

Vanderhoef set to start 5^th term as county exec

NEW CITY - To mark the beginning of his fifth term as Rockland County Executive, C. Scott Vanderhoef will be sworn in at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 5, at Rockland Community College.

Light refreshments will be served at a short reception following the swearing in ceremony at RCC’s Technology Building on the college’s main campus, 145 College Road, Ramapo.

Albany’s year of magical thinking demands reform in 2010

By Annie Rabbitt

GREENWOOD LAKE - Misdirection is an old and very useful tactic among magicians and comedians. It involves distracting your audience with one thing (a boldly colored handkerchief, a long set-up narrative) while the real action takes place hidden from view. Only when the audience is least prepared can the performer spring his trap: the punch line is delivered, a fuzzy bunny materializes out of thin air. For its powers to distract and manipulate misdirection is preferred also by successful pickpockets.

In 2009, Albany used enough misdirection in state government to put any pickpocket to shame. New Yorkers, who already pay some of the highest combined taxes in the country, were subjected to over $8 billion in new and increased taxes and fees in the 2009 state budget, which raised spending nearly 10 percent above the previous year’s level. As a result, the average family of four will pay an extra $2,362.77 in higher taxes and fees this year. State leaders embarked on this fiscal suicide march only after issuing dire public warnings about New York’s long-term deficits. Following this record tax and spending increase – measures I voted against – we were told that robust tax collections would deflate our ballooning debt. But state revenues continued to fall. And an economic collapse that began in New York City’s financial-services industry spread malignantly across the Empire State. The shell game continued last month, when Governor Paterson’s Deficit Reduction Plan, marketed as a $3.2 billion fix, fell $500 million short thanks to petty politics and ineffective leadership. Federal education funds, appropriated for next year’s budget, were used to blot up the red ink. School districts were told their obligated payments would not suffer. This money was deferred or suspended indefinitely. Misdirection had worked.

Despite warnings I issued last March along with many of my colleagues, the fiscal tremors felt by the state since Governor Paterson’s $132 billion budget passed have shaken our institutions to their foundations. New Yorkers no longer expect credible results from their state government, and with a record like the Majority party’s in 2009, I don’t blame them. Families and businesses in the Hudson Valley need more jobs in their region, a healthier economic environment for investors, and greater consumer lending to small-business owners. Thanks to the policies of Governor Paterson and his legislative allies there has been no return on their record government spending.

A look back on 2009 reveals a pattern of high-spending, high-taxing behavior by Albany’s “three men in a room.” The Legislature’s Majority increased the cost of living on your property, lighting or heating homes, driving to work, going outdoors, and buying groceries to feed your family. What follows is a (short) list of their legislative low-lights.

Property taxpayers took a big hit with the elimination of the STAR property tax rebate checks. On average, these STAR rebate checks saved homeowners $386 and seniors $458 on their property tax bills.
Consumers saw their energy taxes soar by $520 million as part of the utility assessment tax. New Yorkers can expect to pay an extra $114 in power bills in 2010.
DMV fees were hiked by 25 percent on driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations and a much-publicized scheme was pushed to force motorists to needlessly pay for new license plates.
New Yorkers visiting state parks had to pay more in camping fees ($13 to $15), cabin rentals (15 percent hike), golfing (15 percent increase), marina rentals (25 percent hike), and for the popular Empire Pass ($59 to $65).
An ill-conceived change to the state’s drug laws means 700 convicted drug criminals – including drug dealers who sold to children – can now apply for re-sentencing and possibly be sprung from state prisons thanks to a little-known provision in the new law.
The perversely titled “Bigger Better Bottle Bill” was passed, adding a 5 cent returnable deposit to water bottles and flavored water and increasing the bottle-handling fee paid by distributors from 3 cents a container to 3.5 cents a container – an additional $2.04 for a 24-pack of bottled water.

Has a single one of these measures improved the quality of life for families and taxpayers in the Hudson Valley? Has the long-term deficit outlook changed as a result of tax gimmicks and cost shifts to the counties and municipalities? Albany’s career politicians must begin to seriously address the concerns felt by New Yorkers in 2010. There is no margin for error, and there is no excuse for evasion. A year of magical thinking, in which talking is as good as doing, and partisanship masquerades as leadership, has delivered us to this low point. This has to change. I will continue to work with my colleagues to make sure that 2010 is the year in which clear-headed reform replaces misdirection once and for all.

Annie Rabbitt is a member of the state Assembly.

Andrew Cuomo and Rockland Review Publisher Joseph Miele.

Cuomo meets with Rockland business, political leaders

WEST NYACK – Now that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has made it official that he’s not running for U.S. Senate or for governor, the political spotlight is focusing other popular figures targeting those jobs.

Giuliani has endorsed former New York Congressman Rick Lazio for governor, to run against Gov. David Paterson. For now, Giuliani is staying out of politics to put his attention toward his private businesses.

Lazio is the only declared candidate running for the New York governor's seat on the GOP side. On the Democratic side, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has not yet decided whether he will challenge Paterson in a Democratic primary.

However, Cuomo has been busy on the fundraiser circuit lately. He recently met with Rockland County business and political leaders at a fundraiser organized by Ramapo Town Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence. Joining in the session to hear what Cuomo had to say was also Joseph Miele, publisher of the Rockland Review.

Danger: Antidepressants in children and adolescents

By Thomas Morahan

As we approach the New Year, I remain very seriously concerned about the use of antidepressant medication for children and adolescents, and more recently, for young adults. As the Ranking Member of the New York State Senate Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, I have been particularly concerned about a possible increased risk for suicidal behavior (such as suicide attempts or suicidal thoughts) in children and adolescents taking these drugs.

After reviewing the studies, I have learned that the Federal Drug Administration has concluded that there is an increased risk of suicidal behavior (such as a suicide attempt or suicidal thoughts) for a small number of children and adolescents who take antidepressant medication. As a result of this review and hearings that were conducted, the FDA, in 2004, required that the strictest warning (a “black box warning”) be placed on the product labeling of all antidepressants regarding their use in children and adolescents. Whenever physicians or health care professionals prescribe antidepressants, they now should clearly warn patients and families about the increased risk of suicidal behavior in youth and of the need for close observation and communication with the prescribing professional when these medications are taken.

Suicidal thoughts often are a symptom of depression. It is sometimes difficult to say precisely whether suicidal thoughts or behaviors in depressed people are due to the depressive illness itself, or to the antidepressant medication. It can be either or both of these factors. The FDA's warning indicates that antidepressant medications may increase these types of thoughts in children and adolescents.

If your child or adolescent starts an antidepressant medication in the near future, you should fully discuss this decision with the physician or prescriber before beginning the medication, and consider the possible benefits as well as possible risks in taking or not taking the medication.

As a parent you should be clear and honest when talking with your child or adolescent about possible risks and benefits of taking antidepressant medication. Talk to your child or adolescent about whether he or she is having any suicidal thoughts, and tell the youngster that you should be told immediately if suicidal thoughts or any other troubling thoughts, feelings or behaviors begin or worsen when taking the medication.

Closely monitor and observe your child or adolescent along with the prescribing professional--especially during the first few months of treatment and with any dosage change-- for any signs of suicidal behavior, worsening depression or other troubling feelings or behaviors.

Do not stop the antidepressant medication or abruptly change the dosage without first talking to the prescribing professional. For further information you can call the State Office of Mental Health Field Office (845) 454-8229.

Thomas Morahan is a state senator representing Rockland County.

Family receives ultimate Christmas gift

By Christopher St. Lawrence

Over this past weekend my Assistant Phil Tisi and his wife received the ultimate Christmas gift – the birth of a granddaughter, Cameron Rose. Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of daily life and the ongoing commercialism of the holiday season, we lose sight of the greatest gift in life we can receive – a loving family. Phil writes as follows about the arrival of the newest addition to his family.

“For some reason the birth of my son Phil’s first child made me more apprehensive than the births of our own four children, especially given the fact that the baby was nine days overdue. Phil lives in Scarsdale, which is about twenty five miles from Rockland, and thirty minutes from the hospital where the birth would take place at Phelps Memorial in Tarrytown. Cameron Rose Tisi arrived safe and sound at 1:27 AM, Saturday morning, December 19^th. Perhaps the one image of the baby’s delivery that I will never forget was when my son held his daughter for the first time with a look of both amazement and love in his eyes.”

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your greatest gift – your family.

Challenger Center Wins NASA Award – The Town of Ramapo Challenger Center for Space Science Education has been awarded a NASA Grant to create a High School Challenger Program, to be used by Challenger Centers worldwide. The Town of Ramapo Challenger Center proposal was rated as one of the most innovative that NASA received. This selected proposal was described by NASA as one “which would leverage NASA’s unique contributions to science, technology, english and mathematics to enhance secondary students academic experience.”

Congratulations to the Challenger Staff!

Christopher St. Lawrence is supervisor of the Town of Ramapo.

CALHOUN WARNS CONSTITUENTS AGAINST PHONE SCAMS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Encourages direct charitable donations to local groups

Assemblywoman Nancy Calhoun (R,C – Blooming Grove) has encouraged her constituents to continue being charitable but to be wary of telephone scams, following disclosure that only 20 percent of donations given to local fundraising campaigns via one telemarketer actually goes to the non-profit organizations the telemarketers are calling for. Although the organization named on a telephone call do receive a portion of the donation, it is often more effective to donate directly to these groups.

“Even during tough economic times, New Yorkers continue their generosity toward non-profits that provide essential services to our communities,” said Assemblywoman Calhoun. “I would hate for a few greedy telemarketing companies to discourage my constituents from donating money, especially when so many are in need. Those who wish to give this holiday season should pick one organization and contact them in an effort to ensure all funds go directly to helping those in need.”

Recent news reports have focused on a telemarketing firm, Stage Door Music Productions, which does telemarketing for the Orange County K-9 Association. Although hired by the K-9 Association, the percentage of the donation going to the non-profit cause is rarely disclosed, which could alter how much, or if, donors decide to donate. For example, during the Stage Door’s 2008 campaign for the K-9 Association, of the $113,552 raised less than $25,000 actually went to the non-profit.

“In light of recent developments, I just want to ensure that those who wish to be charitable can know that their hard-earned money is going to a worthy cause and not into the pockets of for-profit industries,” concluded Assemblywoman Calhoun.

Those interested in finding out how to maximize the effectiveness of their charitable donation can visit American Institute of Philanthropy (AIP)’s website charitywatch.org. The AIP is a non-profit charity watchdog and information service that provides donors with the information they need to make more informed giving decisions.

SLA study shows more to be done to help Hudson Valley small business owners

By Annie Rabbitt

GREENWOOD LAKE - Among the approximately 736 public authorities in New York State, you could do little worse to find an agency which inhibits economic development in mid-Hudson Valley communities through a toxic combination of inefficiency, incompetence, and scandal than the state Liquor Authority (SLA), a division of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division.

Since New York’s modern alcohol laws were instituted in the aftermath of Prohibition in 1934, there has been scant attention paid to our state’s licensing process for restaurants, bars, and liquor stores. Instead, our leadership has kept in place a set of laws and guidelines virtually unchanged since the days of bootlegging and Al Capone, causing considerable delay in business growth and treating licensees like suspects rather than economic drivers for communities across Orange and Rockland counties.

The SLA has continued to add to state coffers – last year its revenues, from taxes and fees, totaled $54 million – but at the cost of well-paying jobs and economic expansion for small businesses. As a tavern owner myself, I can attest to the frustration in dealing with a state agency less concerned with customer service than the Department of Motor Vehicles. It was with some relief, therefore, that I observed last week’s final report by the New York State Law Revision Commission, a two-year study examining the licensure system in the Empire State. Governor Paterson noted the commission’s study as well, and called for an end to the present liquor-license backlog by October 2010. A good start, but more can, and should, be done if we are to protect small business owners facing one of the gloomiest economic climates in over 25 years.

The 192-page New York State Law Revision Commission’s “Report on the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law and Its Administration” was one of the most damning indictments yet of our broken and bloated liquor bureaucracy. The report said the glacial licensing process for bar and restaurants “jeopardizes public health and safety.” I could not agree more. A months-long wait for a single liquor license can also make or break a new business, beset as it is by high operating costs such as payroll, nearly 40 percent of any business’s budget. And this bureaucratic nightmare also impedes economic development on a broader scale: construction workers, electricians, suppliers, and carpenters also suffer while a small business waits for certification from the state. The multiplier effect on hiring and purchasing can have a major impact on a consumer-driven economy such as ours. Thankfully, there has been a 21 percent reduction of license backlogs since October, down from over 3,000. A measure by new SLA Chairman Dennis Rosen has contributed to the cut. Rosen’s idea was to slash the certification time on individual license applications from over five hours per document to 45 minutes by requiring most businesses to use an attorney to approve forms before they are submitted to the agency. Whether this is just shifting costs and duties from the public to the private sector is a point worth debating, but at the very least it has begun to address the SLA’s failure to process licenses in a timely manner, a problem that “epitomizes the many failures and structural defects plaguing the agency,” according to the commission’s report.

For its recommendations to take effect, most of the solutions offered in the New York State Law Revision Commission’s report will have to be approved by the legislature. I look forward to the opportunity to reform this troubled agency, and I remain hopeful that my colleagues will join me in taking up the commission’s more compelling arguments. The SLA gets about 85 percent of its revenue from the licensing process for bars, restaurants, stores, and taverns. It is behind only the departments of taxation and motor vehicles in annual income. Isn’t it time New York’s small business owners got more bang for their buck? We must end the liquor license backlog in 2010. The credibility of the SLA, and more importantly the economic well-being of the Hudson Valley’s businesses, depend on it.

Annie Rabbitt is a member of the state Assembly.

Wall Street reforms protect Americans

By John Hall

For eight years, the Bush Administration's deregulation and lack of oversight let Wall Street and big banks exploit loopholes and gamble with hardworking people's money – compromising Americans' savings, futures, and dreams. Tragically, the Bush policies and Wall Street's "too big to fail" institutions turned our economy into a burning building last fall. Unfortunately, the government was forced to step in and put the fire out. Last week, the House of Representatives passed financial reform that will prevent another fire on Wall Street from ever burning down America's economy. The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act passed the House last week and this important legislation will protect Main Street's interest and takes taxpayers out of the business of bailouts. It makes the financial corporations responsible for cleaning up their own mess.

This financial regulatory reform will protect consumers from predatory lending, safeguard retirement and college savings from unnecessary risks, and ensure that taxpayers will never have to bail out Wall Street banks by making sure that "too big to fail" firms don't have a stranglehold on the market or the ability to bring down the entire economy through risky practices. The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act adds transparency and new accountability into a financial system run amok.

The legislation will create a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency to protect families and small businesses by ensuring bank loans, mortgages, and credit cards are fair, affordable, and understandable. For the first time, the new agency streamlines into one place the role of protecting Americans' financial security.

Consumers should have the peace-of-mind of knowing that they are not going to be tricked by their banks and credit card companies. We don't let companies sell faulty toasters that can burn down our homes, and we shouldn't let the financial industry trick people into mortgage loans they can't afford.

As we work to rebuild America's economy, it is important that we put in place common-sense rules to ensure big banks and Wall Street can't jeopardize our economy and destroy Americans' savings.

U.S. Rep. John Hall represents the 19^th Congressional District.

Golden Gloves comes to Ramapo

By Christopher St. Lawrence

RAMAPO - The Town of Ramapo will host a Boxing Program featuring boxers competing in the 83^rd Annual Daily News Gloves Tournament on Saturday, Jan. 23, at the Joseph T. St. Lawrence Community, Health & Sports Center starting at 4 p.m. The Daily News Golden Gloves Tournament is the oldest and largest amateur boxing tournament sanctioned by USA Boxing.

The Gloves was started by Paul Gallico, former sports editor of the Daily News. Gallico launched the Gloves with a back page headline, and a feature story on Valentine’s Day in 1927. From the very first year it was a huge success, but even Gallico could never have anticipated the thousands and thousands of youngsters who were to sign up for the tournament. Some went on to become Boxing Champions, while some just did it for the sport. Professional Boxing Champions the Gloves produced include: Floyd Patterson, Riddick Bowe, Emile Griffith, Jose Torres, Bob Olin, Gus Lesnivich, Lou Salica, Pete Scalzo and the greatest of them all, the legendary Sugar Ray Robinson.

The coordinators of the Golden Gloves Tournament Billy Farrell and Byran Adams selected the Joseph T. St. Lawrence Center after being contacted by Phil Tisi from my office. This is the first time in recent years that Golden Gloves Bouts will take place outside the immediate New York City vicinity. I requested a special 4:00 PM starting time to encourage a large “Father & Son” turn out. I will have further information about this exciting event in next week’s column.

Santa attracts a sell-out crowd – Over 1,000 people attended the Annual Town of Ramapo Christmas Spectacular at the Lafayette Theater on Saturday, Dec. 12. This program has become one of the Town of Ramapo’s signature events, produced in conjunction with our good friend, the owner of the Majestic Theater Corporation, Nelson Page.

Christopher St. Lawrence is supervisor of the Town of Ramapo.

Rabbitt named grand marshal for 2010

Mid-Hudson St. Patrick’s Day Parade

GREENWOOD LAKE - Assemblywoman Annie Rabbitt, R,I,C-Greenwood Lake, was officially sworn in on Dec. 13 as Grand Marshal of the 2010 Mid-Hudson St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

This is the first time Rabbitt will preside as grand marshal at the March 14 event. In Albany, Assemblywoman Rabbitt has served as parliamentarian of the American-Irish Legislators Society and is an active member of the Greenwood Lake Gaelic Cultural Society.
“I look forward to executing my duties with the same respect and dedication that each previous grand marshal has brought to the Mid-Hudson St. Patrick’s Day Parade,” Rabbitt said. “As a proud Irish American and member of several cultural organizations, I am reminded constantly of the ways in which Hudson Valley residents of Irish heritage have added to the development and richness of our region. “

Senate ends ‘shadow governments’

By Thomas Morahan

I am pleased to inform you that my Senate colleagues and I were able to pass sweeping public authorities reform this month which fundamentally change the way “authorities”—or “shadow governments” as they are often called—operate.
The Senate’s plan will place stringent public disclosure and reporting requirements on more than 1,000 public authorities across the state, including the New York Power Authority and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
New Yorkers are paying for years of secrecy, lack of oversight, and fiscal recklessness due to prior unwillingness to challenge the autonomy of authorities on spending and budgeting.  The Senate was able to secure a wide range of new oversight requirements, including new standards and practices relating to the purchase and sale of state assets and the establishment of an independent Authorities Budget Office (ABU) as a public watchdog.
Among other key reforms, the new law includes provisions:
·         Empowering the State Comptroller with the authority to review and investigate sole-source contracts over $1 million.
·         Mandating Senate approval for the appointment of CEOs of major authorities, including the New York Power Authority, Long Island Power Authority, the Thruway Authority, the Urban Development Corporation and the Dormitory Authority.
·         Amending the confidentiality provision of the whistleblower provisions to allow the ABU to disclose information, where appropriate to the State Inspector General.
·         Requiring the Authority Budget office to consult with the Attorney General to conform to Public Authorities Law Section 2824, which establishes the role and responsibilities of board members.
·         Providing for the transfer of budget appropriations from the Office of Authority Oversight to the Independent Authority Budget Office.
The Senate’s bill will clean up decades of mismanagement and make certain that taxpayers are getting their money’s worth. The passage of this critical legislation is a big step towards cleaning up a public authorities system that desperately needs reform. By increasing transparency and holding public authorities accountable, we will ensure that taxpayer money is used more responsibly and services are delivered more efficiently.

Thomas Morahan is a state senator representing Rockland County.

Senate Passes $48 Billion Pension Reform

By Thomas Morahan

This month the Senate approved major reform of the state pension system, a significant step in placing the state’s long term finances on a sound fiscal footing. The legislation is expected to save taxpayers $48.5 billion over the next 30 years by establishing a new Tier V of pension benefits for public employees. Tier V benefits will apply to newly hired uniformed and non-uniformed employees.

Pension costs are a major – and growing – expense for state and local governments. State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli has said losses to the New York State Common Retirement Fund due to the current recession will require local governments to increase contributions to the Employees’ Retirement System in 2011 by up to 11.9 percent, and to the Police and Fire Retirement System by up to 18.2 percent. This legislation is an absolute necessity for putting our fiscal house on a sound footing. The Tier V reforms represent a major step forward to help bring pension costs under control.

The Tier V legislation lowers long-term costs to state and local governments by establishing a cost-effective benefit structure and capping the amount of overtime that can be used in calculating pension benefits. Pension payments are traditionally based on an employee’s final average salary.

The new pension plan for all new employees who are members of the New York State and Local Retirement/Police and Fire Retirement System will:

· Require a three percent member contribution for the length of service;

· Require ten years of creditable service to vest with the retirement system; and

· Cap overtime wages that can be used in calculating the final average salary at 15 percent of regular annual wages.

This will not apply to newly hired New York City police and fire retirement system members.

In addition, the legislation establishes a Tier V plan for members of the New York State and Local Retirement System/Employees Retirement System hired on or after January 1, 2010. The plan will:

· Limit the amount of overtime that can be used in calculating final average salary. The overtime ceiling would be $15,000 annually starting January 1, 2010, and would increase by three percent annually;

· Require ten years on the job to vest with the retirement system;

· Increase the penalty for retirement before age 62 to a maximum of 38 percent; and

· Raise the minimum retirement age to 62.

The Tier V plan for the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System for employees hired on or after January 1, 2010, will:

· Require ten years on the job to vest with the retirement system; · Raise the minimum retirement age to 57 with thirty years on the job;

· Make permanent retiree health insurance protections; and, Allow for an early retirement incentive.

Thomas Morahan is a state senator representing Rockland County.

Explanation as to why I voted No to the 2010 County Budget

By Frank Sparaco

VALLEY COTTAGE - I would like to explain why I voted NO on the 2010 Rockland County Budget. Plain and simple, I voted NO because the amended budget included a 2.3% property tax increase.

When I ran for office in 2007 I promised my constituents that if elected I would not support any new taxes no matter how small, and I intend to keep my word no matter how uncommon it may be amongst elected officials. That is why I voted against last years budget with its 10 percent property tax increase, the 30 cent cell phone tax, the hotel occupancy tax, and the 25 cent bag tax.

All of these taxes are small and some would say insignificant but they all add up. All of a sudden we woke up in the 5^th highest taxed county in the United States and it happened a little at a time. Some might say that voting against the Legislature’s budget meant I supported the county exec’s budget. This is not true. I do not support any budget that will raise property taxes especially in these tough economic times. I do not look at my constituents as a piggy bank to fund special interest groups and pet projects.

I will continue to vote against all spending and tax increases. I find it very unfortunate that we have a budget process that restricts legislators from having a valid voice in regards to the budget. If nine legislators vote no to the amended budget, then the County Exec’s original budget goes through. I find that option unacceptable.

If a legislator finds both proposals lacking, there’s no third option. It’s either their way or the highway and it leaves legislators with the convenient option that they had no choice but to vote for a tax increase.

It also limits a legislator’s power to force negotiations because even if they vote no it makes no difference. The whole process is theatrical. Do we really want to live under a Government policy that an elected official cannot vote against something they completely disagree with and there constituents do not support? I will not be manipulated or intimidated into voting for something just because the system has been purposely structured to stifle dissent.

Frank Sparaco of Valley Cottage is a member of the Rockland County Legislature.

Engel supports EPA findings on climate change

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) applauded the Environmental Protection Agency for the research resulting in Monday’s announcement, which concluded that climate changing pollution is threatening public health and the environment in the United States.

The announcement comes as the world meets in Copenhagen for an international climate conference.

“This study, when paired with the comprehensive energy legislation passed earlier this year by the House, should be a clear message to the world: The United States and President Obama are serious about doing our part in addressing climate change. We call on the rest of the industrialized and developing world to join us,” said Engel, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. “I am encouraged that the Senate will address energy legislation early in 2010, so we can work on the differences between the House and Senate measures and reach an agreement to send to President Obama.”

The EPA study said that the scientific evidence shows greenhouse gases are a threat to the health and welfare of the American people. The pollutants — mainly carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels — should be regulated under the Clean Air Act. The Supreme Court recently held that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are subject to regulation under the Clean Air Act.

“Like President Obama, I prefer a comprehensive legislative approach to regulating emissions and stemming global warming, because this issue is too important to ignore. The pollution reduction bill passed by the House was a step in the right direction, but it does not go far enough toward realizing America’s clean energy future. One of its shortcomings is that it would limit the EPA’s authority, under current law, to regulate emissions under the Clean Air Act. I am encouraged to see the EPA is nonetheless exercising its legal authority to control emissions of greenhouse gases,” said Engel.

“I will work with my colleagues and the Obama Administration to reduce emissions for better health and a clean environment, while simultaneously promoting innovation and strengthening the economy,” said Engel.

The school funding issue: We need some big changes

By Christopher P. St. Lawrence

RAMAPO - The recent controversy in the East Ramapo School District over the hiring of new legal counsel reflects a questionable decision-making process and the ongoing burden of the shifting of taxation onto the backs of local taxpayers by the state government. I have been lobbying for over a decade for a change in the school aid formula, which considers Rockland County to be affluent because the formula fails to take into consideration cost of living. Consequently, high-need districts such as East Ramapo have been shortchanged for decades. Increased federal and state mandates, such as “No Child Left Behind” and the “All-Regents Curriculum,” have also been funded locally. This year, the situation was further exacerbated by the elimination of the STAR rebate check program, putting further onus on local school boards to reduce spending.

For years, state politicos have threatened to make midyear cuts in school aid. This year, cuts may come to pass and, next year, the situation may be even worse. Given the severity of the current economic conditions, school boards will be hard-pressed to explain why they are increasing spending, putting educational programs for students at risk. Clearly, the funding of schools is one of the most important issues facing New York State. Over the past decade, families and businesses have left our state in droves because of escalating local property taxes, which are primarily used to fund schools.
Big Screen Classics: Saturday, Dec. 5, at 11:30 a.m. at the Lafayette Theater, featuring Walter Pidgeon and Maureen O’Hara in “How Green Was My Valley” (1941). As a chronicle of the lives of a close-knit, hardworking coal-mining Welsh family at the turn of the 20^th century, the Morgans experience the passing of their hometown life and the slow deterioration of its venerable traditions. Pre-show organ concert is at 11:00 am. Ramapo seniors are free, and all other tickets are $7.00. Call Phil Tisi at 845-357-5100 Ext. 201 for further information.

Christopher P. St. Lawrence is supervisor of the Town of Ramapo.

Lowering Home Heating Bills for the Coming Winter

By Thomas Morahan

We are approaching the start of winter season, and very shortly temperatures will be dropping and your home heating bills will begin to rise. I am pleased that the New York State Energy and Development Agency (NYSERDA)has developed some very useful tips on how one can save hundreds of dollars a year by following their simple low-cost and no-cost energy suggestions. These include:

Buying a Good Thermostat. Use a programmable thermostat with your heating system to lower the temperature automatically when no one is home or at night. You can save nearly $200 a year without sacrificing any comfort.
Plug up the Cracks. Keep the warm air in and the cold air out by adding insulation, caulking and weatherstipping around doors, attic access, windows, outlets and any area that can let the cold air in and the warm air out.
Unblocking the Vents. Make sure not to block floor and wall vents with draperies, furniture, or rugs. Also, clean vents regularly with a vacuum or broom.
Letting the Sun Shine In. Take advantage of natural solar heating. It’s free! Keep blinds and drapes of sun-exposed windows open in the daytime and closed at night.
Closing the Damper. If you have a fireplace, install glass doors and close the damper when not in use to keep heated air from escaping up the chimney.
Taking Out the Room AC. If you have a window air conditioning unit, remove it for the winter months to prevent heat from escaping through and around the unit.
Using Your Fan. Ceiling fans can keep you comfortable in the winter too! Reversing the direction of the blades pushes warm air down into the room.
Not Forgetting the Water. Although some manufacturers set water heater thermostats at 140 degrees, you can save big dollars by lowering the temperature to 120 degrees, a safe, comfortable level for most people.
Unplugging the Appliances. Electronics, appliances, and adapters continue to use energy even when they’re turned off. In fact, just two cable/DVR set-top boxes use the same amount of electricity as a standard refrigerator.
Replacing the Bulbs. Replace your five most used bulbs with ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and save more than $60 on your annual energy costs. ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs and use 75 percent less electricity.

I particularly recommend that you look into the ENERGY STAR® Program, which can help you reduce your energy bills by as much as 40 percent. And you might want to consider contacting an accredited Home Performance contractor, who can conduct a home assessment on your house to find areas for improvements. NYSERDA can show you various financing options and incentives that are available to Rockland and Orange County residents. With a few small steps, you can improve the energy efficiency, health and safety, and overall value of your home. All you've got to lose is your high heating bills.

For more information, visit www.GetEnergySmart.org or call toll-free 1-877-NYsmart.

Thomas Morahan is a state senator representing Rockland County.

R.S.V.P.: The holiday party dilemma

By Alexander Gromack

Now is the time of year when some of you are probably faced with the difficult task of deciding which holiday party to attend and which to avoid.

While I don’t personally have that problem, friends of mine who do see it as a problem don’t seem to have a problem sharing their “dilemma” with me and asking for advice. Sometimes, I feel a little like that naughty kid who’s big Christmas gift was one of those “travel size” magnetic checker games hearing two of his friends arguing about whether they were going to play with their Nintendo Wii or Play Station Three.

I wouldn’t want you to think I am envious of the invitees. I deep down, really deep down, am happy for them. I mean I get it. Holiday parties are big deals. They’re a little like the social register for those of us who would never find ourselves on that list.

Truth be told, I’m a little embarrassed when my friends ask me whether I’m going to this party or that. While I generally can make up a half way decent excuse on the spot, I’m sure sooner or later, my excuses will begin to wear thin.

After all, there’s only so much tree trimming you can do before the tree is trimmed down to its trunk. There are only so many holiday lights you can hang outside before the FAA advices that you are a threat to aviation traffic. There’s even a limit to the number of live ‘Scrooge’ performances you can stomach regardless of whose child is playing one of the street urchins.

So, I guess, when all is said and done, the time has come for me to grab this dilemma by the horns, so to speak; stop bellyaching like I ingested far too much eggnog and take appropriate action.

What I need to do is to attend a really big holiday party. A party that would be featured in the Sunday New York Times complete with pictures of the celebrities and all those cute little captions about who was standing next to whom, eating the shrimp cocktail with one hand and holding a glass of 1928 Krug Champagne with the other, clad in an original design by what’s his name.

Now that, by anybody’s account, would be the holiday party to end all holiday parties.

Of course, you might ask, how would anyone like I, even in my wildest dreams, ever get invited to such a wing ding.

Invited…ha? Don’t make me laugh!

Alexander Gromack is supervisor of the Town of Clarkstown.

Thoughts for Thanksgiving

By Thomas Morahan

Some of the country's most significant Thanksgivings have come in years when gratitude wouldn't appear to come easy. And yet perhaps because of that it acquired a depth and strength that gave it added meaning and helped Americans weather their troubles and maintain this improbable but amazingly successful Union. As New Yorkers, we are facing tough economic times. But I can assure you that we will come through this period of uncertainty. I am confident that my colleagues in government will meet the challenges ahead and work in good faith to resolve our differences so that we can enact legislation that will close the budget gap and get a head start on next year’s budget.

But Thanksgiving should also be a time to get beyond the superficialities and aggravations -- turkey, football and airport delays -- Thanksgiving is essentially about the people and the things we trust in and can count on to see us through whatever lies ahead: relatives, friends, shared convictions, and principles based on mutual consent and tolerance.

On this Thanksgiving, many in America have lost their jobs, their homes or a part of what they have worked and saved for over the years. The times are uncertain and threatening. In the current economic crisis, much of the blame has been placed on a loss of trust and confidence that has shattered businesses and frozen commerce. But despite all the damage wrought in the world of buying and selling, borrowing and lending, the basic trust and confidence on which communities throughout this land depend remain strong.

As we face our latest challenges, we need to be thankful for what we have and the opportunities that will surely come to us in the future. So, this Thanksgiving weekend, take time to remember the less fortunate. Do what you can for them, and never forget to give thanks. No matter what, we believe there should always be time for Thanksgiving.

Thomas Morahan is a state senator representing Rockland County.

New health ‘guidelines’ should sicken women

By Annie Rabbitt

Last Monday the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), a 16-member federal panel with no oncologists among them, produced a new regimen of rules and guidelines intended to give its appointing body, the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), recommendations on mammography screening for American women. The task force recommended both delaying the start of breast-cancer screening and reducing its frequency as well as discouraging doctors from teaching patients self-examinations, upending years of accepted medical practice, including a previous report of its own, in the process. On Friday, the USPSTF said doctors should also advise women to wait to receive their first Pap test until 21 under its revised cervical cancer guidelines, reversing the existing standard of three years after a woman’s first sexual encounter or age 21, whichever came first. Cervical cancer is caused by a sexually transmitted virus, the human papillomavirus, the most common sexually transmitted infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Though HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius was quick to stress that these new guidelines were not current federal law, there is nothing to guarantee that private insurance providers as well as federal entitlement programs would not someday adopt these proposals in the name of cost control. Currently, New York joins every other state except Utah in “guaranteed issue,” or mandated coverage for breast-cancer screening. Breast cancer is the second-leading cancer among American women, behind only skin cancer. Women deserve to have their health care rights protected, and their choices free of federal meddling. Without legislative action at the state level, the task force guidelines threaten to undermine decades of medical practice and research and put more New York women at risk.

The American Cancer Society recommends screening for all women starting at age 40, with routine examinations following every year after. The USPSTF, however, calls this excessive, even harmful; they criticize overexamination for psychic trauma, false positives, even physical harm. Instead, the task force has called on doctors to recommend mammograms every two years for women starting at 50. They cited as evidence statistics showing one cancer death prevented in 1,904 women ages 40 to 49 compared with one death for every 1,339 women from 50 to 74. So are we to believe that one mother, sister, aunt or daughter is worth less just because she happens to be a decade younger than what federal actuaries will allow? More than 193,000 women in our country will develop breast cancer in 2009; 40,000 will die of it. If doctors can cut the risk of death for these women, they should, regardless of their age.

Early detection is our most potent weapon against breast and cervical cancer in American women. Why, then, would a federally appointed task force work to undermine the great gains we’ve made in medical research and women’s longevity? The latest recommendations from the USPSTF are a bad prescription for women’s health in New York. Insurance plans, when adjusting their coverage policies, must keep choice in breast- and cervical-cancer testing. In the short-term I am relieved by Secretary Sebelius’s decision to distance her agency from the guidelines proposed by her appointed task force. In the long-term, however, I am prepared to fight back with legislation should the federal government begin to restrict our rights in the name of keeping costs down.

Annie Rabbitt is a member of the New York State Assembly.

Ramapo opposes United Water’s Hudson River water plan

By Christopher P. St. Lawrence

RAMAPO - In late October of this year, the Ramapo Town Board unanimously passed a resolution opposing United Water’s proposal known as the “Haverstraw Water Supply Project,” which would draw water from the Hudson River and, after treatment, be used as drinking water for Rockland residents. The Town Board’s primary concerns are as follows:

· There has yet to be an adequate analysis of potentially more cost effective and less ecologically problematic alternatives.

· There has yet to be an adequate analysis of water supply demand on a regional basis crossing both county and state lines. It appears that the costs and risks of producing additional drinking water from a Hudson River desalinization plant far exceed the benefits.

· It will be the residents and businesses of Rockland County, who already pay taxes and utility costs far in excess of most other communities, that will ultimately pay the tens of millions of dollars for the construction of the desalinization plant and its high ongoing operational costs.

For these reasons and many, many others, the Ramapo Town Board opposes the construction of the “Haverstraw Water Supply Project” and any Hudson River desalinization facility.

Big Screen Classics: Saturday, November 28, 2009 at 11:30 am at the Lafayette Theater, featuring Diana Rigg and George Lazenby in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” (1969). James Bond once again faces off with his arch enemy, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, head of SPECTRE, who plans to blackmail the Western world with the threat of bacteriological sabotage of the world food supply. Pre-show organ concert is at 11:00 am. Ramapo seniors are free, and all other tickets are $7.00. Call Phil Tisi at 845-357-5100 Ext. 201 for further information.

Christopher P. St. Lawrence is supervisor of the Town of Ramapo.

Assembly OKs public authority reform plan

ALBANY - Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee (D- Pearl River) and Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski (D-New City) announced the passing of legislation to enact sweeping public authorities reform, which will step up accountability and shed new light on the more than 700 public authorities that operate with startling autonomy throughout New York State. Public authorities are quasi-governmental agencies that are created for a public purpose, such as the Metropolitan Transit Authority, public benefit corporations, and the Thruway Authority – all of which operate largely without government oversight and with limited public scrutiny.

“For years we’ve been acutely aware that the state’s public authorities are in need of serious reform. This summer, I supported legislation to streamline public authority operations and increase oversight,” Assemblywoman Jaffee said. “Too often, public authorities have lost their focus – burning through money and straying more and more from their mission statements. The Assembly has been a leader in recognizing the need for these reforms.”

A two-year investigation into the mismanagement of New York’s public authorities resulted in the Public Authority Accountability Act of 2005. That legislation was an important first step toward improving public authority operations and oversight, but the Assembly recognized that additional measures were needed to get and keep these agencies on track and functioning as intended.

Therefore, this week the Assembly passed legislation that more comprehensively reforms New York’s public authorities. This new legislation accomplishes the needed reforms by strengthening the Authority Budget Office with additional powers and responsibilities, strengthening and increasing the provisions governing public authorities’ boards of directors, and strengthening rules and closing loopholes to prevent the sale of property by public authorities below fair market value.

This legislation has created strict new rules to control public authority debt and to ensure that public authorities are subject to legislative and executive approval. Additionally, under this legislation state authorities are required to maintain a record of lobbying contacts made in an attempt to influence any rule, regulation or ratemaking procedure of such authority, and the legislation also provides whistle-blower protections for employees of public authorities.

Assemblyman Zebrowski concluded, “In the past, too much independent power has been vested in these State authorities. I believe this legislation will finally put sufficient checks and balances in place to make sure that the authorities operate in the best interest of the public.”

A deficit reduction plan

By Thomas Morahan

This week, the governor called the state Legislature back to Albany to stress the fact that the state is facing a $3.2 billion budget deficit. He did not mention in his remarks that the deficit is due to a budget he supported which significantly increased spending and taxes. I vigorously opposed that budget and voted against it.

I recognize that New York State has a spending problem and I join my colleagues in the Senate Minority who have proposed a plan to reduce and cap state spending and take the pressure off taxpayers who are fed up with high taxes and spending. We have proposed a plan to cut state spending and close the deficit.

Our plan includes spending cuts and other reform measures to reduce spending now…and in the future – without increasing state taxes or forcing local property tax increases.

I agree with $2.3 billion of the deficit reduction measures proposed by the governor– including:

* $500 million in agency non personal services reductions;

* $500 million in reductions to local assistance program reductions and

* $1.3 billion in other savings and deficit reduction measures.

I am concerned about the governor’s proposed cuts to hospitals and nursing homes and his plan for mid-year school aid cuts which are unfair to suburban schools, would cause disruption in schools and lead to property tax hikes.

The members of my conference have proposed alternatives that would cut back some of the $2.2 billion in general fund spending legislative majority added to the 2009-10 budget.

In addition, our deficit reduction plan would:

* Reinstate welfare and Medicaid anti-fraud protections to save $34 million;

* Cut Medicaid optional services (not required by Feds) to save $200 million;

* Freeze planned Medicaid expansions (FHP and CHP) to save $200 million;

* Freeze state purchases of recreational lands to save $60 million; and

* Cut state agency contract balances by five percent to save $300 million.

I believe it important to fight for a state spending cap that would save taxpayers more than $6 billion and finally bring spending under control. Governor Paterson has proposed a spending cap plan similar to ours, along with some property tax relief measures.

Unfortunately the Assembly has not issued any plan at all to cut spending or address the deficit, and the Senate Majority released a plan that does not include any spending cuts and is made up of one-shot revenues and fiscal gimmicks.

In my view, the only way we can balance the budget now and in the future is to reduce and cap state spending.

Thomas Morahan is a state senator representing Rockland County.

Calhoun: True cost savings measures ignored during special session

ALBANY - Assemblywoman Nancy Calhoun, R,C – Blooming Grove, expressed frustration that Democrat Assembly members failed to address the issues Governor David Paterson called them back to fix.

With no agreed upon plan for action put into place before being called back to Albany, Paterson’s proposed Deficit Reduction Package (DRP) and economic solutions were dead on arrival.

“For too long now, New Yorkers have heard Gov. Paterson and his New York City allies speak of grand ideas and plans to cap property taxes and reduce state spending, with no results to speak of,” said Calhoun. “With the abrupt conclusion of (the) special session, it should be clear to all taxpayers, residents and voters that the time has come for Democrats to lead or get out of the way. The Assembly Republican Conference and I have put forth numerous cost-saving measures which would produce immediate savings necessary to prevent having massive cuts in education and health care but our ideas were left out of the negotiating process between Governor Paterson, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senator Sampson.”

Assembly Republicans, in an effort to save having to make cuts to education and health care, have offered numerous other cuts that the governor can make in order to make the DRP more acceptable to millions of New Yorkers.

“These cost cutting measures would more than equal the amount Governor Paterson called upon the legislature to cut in education and health care and it is a shame that our ideas were ignored due to his lack of leadership. Unfortunately, the taxpayers of New York once again have to pay the price for continued incompetence from the Executive Branch,” concluded Calhoun.

The cuts the Assembly Republicans have rejected and their alternatives are listed in the table below:

Across the Board Local Assistance Cuts - Assembly Minority (in millions)

REJECTIONS OF THE FOLLOWING CUTS
School Aid		$480
Other Education (Bundy, Library, Deaf & Blind, Non-Public & Indepen. Living)		$23
Medicaid		$287
Aid to Municipalities		$67
Total		$857

ALTERNATIVES

State Land Acquisition		$30
Yonkers Misc. Payment ($5m minus $500k(Yonkers) and $209k(Small Gov))		$4
PS Reductions & Agency Efficiencies		$280
5% Cut Contract Balances (Sen.)		$300
Cash Balance Additional Cut 2.5%		$120
Out-Of-State Tuition Increase		$99
Additional Refundings		$24
Total		$857

Rabbitt: Legislative partisans block fiscal work

ALBANY - Assemblywoman Annie Rabbitt, R,I,C-Greenwood Lake, criticized the majority’s representatives in both houses of the state Legislature this week for sabotaging another opportunity to stave off bankruptcy in New York.

With a $3.7 billion projected deficit for the current fiscal year ending on March 31 and a cash-flow problem that threatens to derail mandatory payments to school districts and local governments next month, this week’s special session was intended to mop up the Empire State’s red ink. Instead, members of the Assembly and Senate used their taxpayer-funded per diems to filibuster reform and punt the deficit-reduction issue to another day, Rabbitt said.

“In some respects, the problems facing New York State today are direr than which confronted California in the run-up to its current financial collapse,” said Rabbitt. “California’s troubles are still surmountable given the right economic conditions and smarter policy; New York’s, in contrast, are now a combination of both fiscal and political instability. The actions taken today by several of my Assembly and Senate colleagues prove to me that bipartisan relief is the only chance our state has to create the conditions necessary for a brighter future for the Hudson Valley’s families and small businesses.”

Assembly task force to probe veterans’ services

By Ellen Jaffee

On Veterans Day and Memorial Day we celebrate those who have served our country. On these occasions speeches are made filled with words like honor, heroism, and courage, as we salute the service of those who have risked their lives or made the tragic and ultimate sacrifice. It is fitting that we set aside these days of remembrance to honor our bravest men and women, their contribution and dedication to our country cannot be measured, and our appreciation for them can not be quantified. At the same time however, on these two days we must pause and consider: what do we do to honor our veterans the other 363 days a year?

All too often our nation’s bravest become the most in need. This summer I became aware that homelessness was growing among women veterans; further investigation found this is due in large part to obstacles women veterans face when accessing services. As a result, in my capacity as Chair of the Assembly Task Force on Women’s Issues, I will be holding a joint hearing with Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat, Chair of the Veteran’s Committee, and Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, Chair of subcommittee on Women’s Veterans, November 16^th, to examine how New York State can better respond to the unique needs of women veterans.

My research into this topic has been eye opening. Women veterans are less likely to seek services than their male counterparts. Not surprisingly, a lack of childcare prevents a number of women from being able to show up for appointments for a range of programs. Another reason women decline services is that they often don’t consider themselves as deserving as male veterans, so they neglect to take advantage of programs that are offered.

The hearings will examine these and other issues in detail with testimony from a number of expert witnesses. These proceedings will take place at 250 Broadway in New York City. The public is welcome to attend. For more information you can contact me at jaffeee@assembly.state.ny.us or 624-4601.

It’s confounding how anyone who serves our nation could return home without a roof over her head, enough to eat, access to healthcare, and opportunities for employment. It is sheer hypocrisy to send men and women off to fight for our country and then, on their return, make them battle red tape to get services.

My colleagues and I are committed to ensuring that this hearing will produce practical solutions to address what we can on a state level. It’s the least we can do to honor those who have served our country, not just on Veterans Day, but on every other day of the year.

Ellen Jaffee is a member of the state Assembly.

Major League Baseball forgets kids

By Christopher St. Lawrence

RAMAPO - To those of us who grew up in the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s watching or listening to the World Series in the afternoon, day baseball has become a thing of the past. The sun has not shined on baseball’s biggest stage since 1984 when the Detroit Tigers beat the San Diego Padres in game five at Tiger Stadium to win the World Series. Rather than catering to kids, Major League baseball and the Fox Network are shooting for the highest ratings to maximize ad revenues.

Alan Trammell, the World Series MVP in 1984, fondly recalls watching baseball’s best in the 1960s during the day as a kid. “I started getting the gleam in my eye and the dream of becoming a Major League player watching the World Series in school. I wish they would bring it back,” said Trammell.

Aside from not being able to watch World Series’ games on TV, fewer and fewer families can afford to take their kids to a game. Some franchises like the St. Louis Cardinals have implemented “family friendly” ticket packages where good seats are available for less than $6.00. Conversely, Yankee Stadium has the highest ticket prices in the country, shutting out kids from attending games with the exception of their grandstand-section “nose bleed” seats.

This trend has made me even more determined to bring Minor League professional baseball to Rockland County. Throughout the country, “family friendly” Minor League baseball complexes are thriving, providing an attraction that can entice families to attend together for less than $50 and being the conduit of economic growth in the host community. In the coming weeks, I will keep you posted on this project.

Big Screen Classics: Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 11:30 am at the Lafayette Theater, featuring Joan Crawford, Jack Carson and Zachary Scott in “Mildred Pierce” (1945). After her cheating husband leaves her, Mildred Pierce proves she can become independent and successful, but cannot win the approval of her spoiled daughter. Ramapo seniors are free, and all other tickets are $7.00. Call Phil Tisi at 845-357-5100 Ext. 201 for further information.

Christopher St. Lawrence is supervisor of the Town of Ramapo.

Medical Insurance Should Cover Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

By Thomas Morahan

As a result of a permanent law known as Timothy’s Law, which I shepherded through the State legislature 2 years ago, people with mental illness are treated the same way as people with physical illness when it comes to coverage of their care. This is a major step forward in the efforts to end the discrimination of people with mental illness and a recognition that people with mental illness can and do recover and live productively in the community.

This law was truly a remarkable effort that will change people lives for many years to come. As we all know though, no legislation is perfect and there are always parts that can be improved. One of the areas that is still not fully addressed in Timothy’s Law is coverage for individuals with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

The catastrophic traumatic event that leads to a PTSD diagnosis can impact individuals for many years. Left untreated, PTSD is associated with both mental and physical debilitation and even premature death. In addition, the rate of suicide completion for victims of PTSD is much higher then that of the general population.

According to recent statistics, up to one third of all our returning veterans have PTSD. A recent Rand Study estimated that over 300,000 returning veterans have a diagnosis of PTSD. Veterans have served our country courageously and deserve the best possible quality of care. It is incumbent upon us as a society to provide the best, state of the art treatment for veterans.

They are not the only group of individuals dramatically affected by PTSD. Many victims of rape, abuse and other violent acts are also victims of PTSD. Survivors of childhood trauma also suffer from PTSD. There are several studies that have linked childhood trauma with the need for adult mental health services. Other victims of PTSD include persons exposed to catastrophic events including those who were exposed to the 9/11 tragedy.

To address the needs of returning veterans and trauma survivors, I introduced legislation that was unanimously passed in the Senate to add PTSD as a diagnosis that will be fully covered under Timothy’s Law ( S.185). Assemblyman Peter Rivera has introduced the same legislation in the Assembly as well (A.4572).

Passage of this law will strengthen an already strong law but more importantly, it will provide desperately needed insurance coverage for individuals with PTSD and continue to end the discrimination of mental illness.

One in five people in the United States suffer from mental illness. The illness does not discriminate by age, race or financial status. It treats everyone equally. Only through legislation like S.185 will we be able to once and for all end this stigma of mental illness.

I urge the passage of this significant legislation.

Thomas Morahan is a state senator representing Rockland County.

CALHOUN TO GOV: CIRCUIT BREAKER PROPOSAL PROVIDES LITTLE OR NO RELIEF

Governor resorts to empty promises for special session legislation

Earlier this week, Governor David Paterson unveiled his proposed legislation for the special session of the legislature on November 9 and 10. While intended to provide a framework for New York’s fiscal future, the governor’s proposal amounts to empty promises and the potential for tax relief when, or if, the state can get its finances in order. Although many of my colleagues and I support legislation intended to institute a property tax circuit breaker and a state spending cap, the governor must realize this issue will only grow worse with his proposal.

For starters, the purpose of the special session was originally to address the $3 billion deficit between what the governor spent in his Fiscal Year 2009-10 budget and how much money the state received in revenues. With less than two weeks to prepare for this session and that singular task, now is not the time to propose major legislative overhauls with little or no debate.

Assembly Republicans have called for a spending cap to be passed year after year, without so much as a hearing or a floor debate allowed by the Democrats who control the chamber or a nod of agreement from the governor. The only reason this state needs a spending cap is because it is apparent that the governor and his New York City followers refuse to spend within the state’s means. To force a vote on this issue, and link it to the issue of a circuit breaker, is both disingenuous and legislatively unsound.

With regard to a circuit breaker for individuals paying property taxes, once again this is a concept which I support but disagree with the governor as to how to best implement. Along with a property tax cap which limits the growth of school property taxes to 4% or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower, a circuit breaker would allow individuals, particularly those with low or fixed incomes, to be exempt from a portion of their property tax if their property tax bill reaches a certain percentage of their household income.

What the governor’s proposal would do, in simple terms, is create a reserve funded through budget surpluses and distributed throughout the state to property owners, based upon a percentage determined by the Commissioner of Taxation and Finance, as a personal income tax credit. What the governor supposes is that during good economic times the state will run surpluses and that money can go back to property owners, but in tough economic times, the state will need to keep the money for their own use. It is my opinion that in tough economic times, people need more money than ever and that is when a circuit breaker is needed the most; not when the governor wants to keep money in state coffers for use on his pet programs.

This is not the proper way to implement a circuit breaker and spending cap, because it does not provide tax relief to the people being forced to pay skyrocketing property taxes. For starters, it does not look as if the state will run surpluses in the near future, even if a spending cap is implemented, due to the lack of revenue to the state and the crippling amount of outstanding debt the state has accumulated to the tune of over $50 billion.

Secondly, there are no provisions to keep property taxes low if the state enacts a spending cap which results in local school districts being forced to pay for programs previously paid for by the state, adding to the multitude of unfunded mandates the state already places on schools.

Lastly, although the spending cap could be put into effect for the Fiscal Year 2010-11 budget, the circuit breaker does not take effect until January 1, 2011, and by that point millions more families and businesses may have moved out of the state because of our egregious property taxes.

It is good to see that the governor has finally heard the call for a spending cap and a circuit breaker; now it is up to the legislature to show him just how these programs should be implemented for the benefit of all New Yorkers. This won’t happen overnight, regardless of the governor’s wishes, because it is incumbent on all legislators to perform due diligence and research these issues so that we may eliminate the obvious shortcomings of the current proposal. I look forward to returning to Albany and working to improve this bill, which starts in a positive direction but clearly lacks the follow through and detail necessary to make a positive impact for those New Yorkers struggling to get by in the immediate future.

Legislator Michel lobbies for immigration reform

NEW CITY - Rockland County Legislator Jacques O. D’I Michel recently attended the inaugural meeting of The National Haitian American Elected Officials Network (NHAEON), a non-partisan coalition determined to improve relations between the United States and Haiti. NHAEON is committed to bringing a renewed national and local focus on key legislative, diplomatic, security, economic, and human rights issues in this critical part of the world.

The meeting agenda included a discussion on comprehensive immigration reform and the explicit pathways to legalization for undocumented aliens in the United States. A new Immigration bill being drafted will be introduced before the Senate as of January 2010. Legislator Michel made recommendations that members of NHAEON be engaged in the current review process and request President Barack Obama take immediate action regarding the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program on behalf of undocumented aliens living in the United States.

In 1990, as part of the Immigration Act of 1990 (“IMMACT”), P.L. 101-649, Congress established a procedure by which the Attorney General may provide Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to aliens in the United States who are temporarily unable to safely return to their home country because of ongoing armed conflict, an environmental disaster, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions. As yet, not all eligible foreign nationals have been designated as beneficiaries of the program.

Legislator Michel said, “As a Haitian-American Legislator in a multi-cultural town and village in a country of immigrants, I am proud that my voice can reach out to Washington on behalf of my constituency, to urge President Obama and our Congressional colleagues to take the necessary actions for thorough Immigration reform.”

RESPONSE TO GOVERNOR’S PROPOSED BUDGET CUTTING MEASURES

By Thomas Morahan

Just as I warned last spring, the Governor and Senate and Assembly Majority decision to raise taxes and spending hurt our economy, have caused more pain for taxpayers, and still left us with an enormous budget deficit. Despite billions in federal stimulus aid, we now find ourselves in a deficit situation that is largely the result of spending money we don’t have and taxing people and businesses who can’t afford to pay any more. Our only course of action is to cut spending.

Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos has outlined a plan offers a realistic approach to closing the state’s projected budget deficit resulting from a budget that raised spending by more than $13 billion and taxes by more than $8 billion.

At a leaders meeting last month, Senator Skelos was the only one to propose specific spending reductions to help close the deficit. Today, he offered new proposals that would result in additional savings. Specifically he proposed:

> Cutting back the $2.2 billion in general fund spending added to the 2009-10 budget by legislative Democrats;

> Cutting state agency non-personal services by 10 percent to save $480 million;

> Freezing state purchases of recreational lands to save $78 million;

> Freezing planned Medicaid expansions to save $200 million;

> Reinstating welfare and Medicaid anti-fraud protections to save $34 million;

> Cutting Medicaid optional services to save $150 million; and

> Cutting state agency contract balances by five percent to save $300 million.

In cutting state spending we cannot simply offload costs to local governments that would force them to raise property taxes. In addition, we should not take any action that hinders our ability to create jobs.

I remain disappointed that there have been no proposals by Senate and Assembly Majority to close the deficit that was largely of their making. In fact, Speaker Silver is still not ruling out tax increases and is refusing to put any ideas forward to cut spending. As for Senate Majority, waiting for their plans is like waiting for a slow boat to China.

If New York City leadership had had open budget discussions and adopted the proposals in the 2009-10 budget made by the Republican Conference, we wouldn't be in the deficit situation that now exists. Hopefully, these Republican proposals will now be part of the solution, and the tough choices that most of our residents are making will now be made by State leadership to comprehensively attack the budget deficit.

Thomas Morahan is a state senator representing Rockland County.

Rivertown Film comes to Ramapo

SUFFERN - Rivertown Film will present an exciting new series of films at the historic Lafayette Theater in Suffern starting Nov. 4.

Rivertown Film is more than a movie house, they try whenever possible to bring someone from the film, a film professional or a panel of experts to interact with audience. They have also nurtured emerging Rockland filmmakers helping them find an audience and providing workshops for them.

Wednesday night at the movies at the Lafayette Theater will feature the following outstanding films:

Nov. 4 at 8 p.m. – “In The Loop” directed by Armando Ianucci. This film is a witty British satire of modern politics.

Nov. 11 at 8 p.m. – “Cheri`” directed by Stephen Frears, starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Kathy Bates. The son of a courtesan retreats into a fantasy world after being forced to end his relationship with the older woman who educated him in the ways of love. Professor Ann Fey will lead a Q&A after movie. For further information call (845) 353-2568.

Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. – “Il Divo” directed by Paola Sorrentino. This sensational film is the true story of the scandal-ridden, seven-time Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti.

Nov. 24^th at 8 p.m. – “Yoo-hoo Mrs. Goldberg” starring Gertrude Berg. A documentary, on television pioneer Gertrude Berg, who was the creator, principal writer and star of the “Goldbergs” – a radio show for 17 years, which became televisions first domestic sitcom in 1949.

Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. – “Taking Woodstock” directed by Academy Award Winner Ang Lee. In the film a man working at his parents motel in the Catskills inadvertently sets in motion the generation-defining Concert at Woodstock in the summer of 1969.

The Lafayette Theater is located at 97 Lafayette Avenue in downtown Suffern, come early and listen to the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ which dates back to the late 1920’s.

Tickets are priced at $9 general admission, $7 students, senior citizens and Rivertown members (students and senior citizens) are $6.

Big Screen Classic Movie – Saturday, Oct. 24, “An Affair To Remember” (1957) starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. A classic film considered to be one of the most romantic films of all time. Playboy Nicky Ferrante and a night club singer, Terry McKay meet on a cruise from Europe to New York. They have a whirlwind romance on board the ship and fall in love despite the fact that both are engaged to be married to other people. They make a pledge to each other to meet in six months at the top of the Empire State Building to see if their deep feelings for each other really are true. Unfortunately, Terry has an accident and misses their rendezvous. Will Nicky and Terry ever realize their feelings for each other? See the movie to find out.

Organ Concert at 11 a.m. and all feature films begin at 11:30 a.m. Ramapo senior citizens are free and all other tickets are $7. For further information call Phil Tisi at 357-5100 ext. 201.

Zebrowski: State should block construction of slaughterhouses within 1,500 feet of a residence

NEW CITY - Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski, D-New City, said he has introduced legislation in Albany that would prohibit municipalities from granting any approvals for the construction or operation of a slaughterhouse that is within 1,500 feet of a residential home.

The need for this legislation is highlighted by a current proposal in the Village of New Square to construct a 26,000 square foot chicken slaughterhouse in close proximity to many residential homes, Zebrowski said. The proposed slaughterhouse is located on Route 45 next to several New Square residences and across from Rovitz Place, a residential neighborhood in the Village of New Hempstead.

The proposal would place the slaughterhouse as close as 100 feet from New Square residences and no more than 500 feet of residences in the Village of New Hempstead.

“The negative environmental impacts from slaughterhouses, such as odor, air pollution and wastewater will have a devastating effect on nearby neighbors,” said Zebrowski. “These facilities do not belong in residential neighborhoods or around residential neighborhoods period.”

Zebrowski said there is precedent for this legislation. A 2008 law prohibited, for a four year period, any slaughterhouses from being licensed by the state if they were placed within 1,500 feet of a New York City residence.

Depending on the amount of chickens slaughtered, a facility is licensed by either the federal Government or the state.

The New Square facility is expected to slaughter enough chickens that it will require a federal license.

“This shows further that this facility will be a major operation that carries major risks and consequences for Rockland County,” added Zebrowski.

The Rockland County Planning Board has already issued disapproval for the New Square slaughterhouse - which was originally proposed to be 50,000 square feet. In its declaration the planning board cited questions and concerns with: water and water pressure availability, waste disposal, sewage capacity, odor, noise implications, traffic and parking. The declaration specifically makes reference to water pressure problems that have already occurred in the exact area of the proposed slaughterhouse.

“One must look no further than New Square’s current 5,000 square foot facility and the 7,500 square foot facility in Kiryas Joel (Orange County) to see the inherent problems with these facilities,” said Zebrowski.

The Rockland County Planning Board report makes reference to the ongoing problems of odors and noise from the existing New Square plant which is less than one quarter the size of the proposed plant and not located on the border of the Village.

“It is irresponsible and imprudent planning to place a slaughterhouse around residential homes, it puts everyone at risk,” said Zebrowski. “The precedent set in 2008 in New York City speaks volumes. What is good for the city is good for Rockland and I will see that we put this necessary protection for homeowners into law.”

The Village of New Hempstead is the Village of New Square’s neighboring municipality and shares the border of the proposed slaughterhouse. There is a growing concern by the residents in the Village of New Hempstead who have many unanswered questions regarding the proposed slaughterhouse. Residents rallied against the slaughterhouse last Saturday at Rovitz Place, which is directly across the street from the proposed building.

Mayor Lawrence Dessau of New Hempstead has also been opposed to the plant and recently met with Zebrowski to discuss the proposal.

“I am in total agreement with this legislation and I am grateful to Assemblyman Zebrowski for taking the necessary steps to ensure that the quality of life of all Rockland County residents is protected.” said Dessau.

Young Democrats buck tradition in Nyack

NEW CITY-As has been tradition with the Rockland County Young Democrats, the organization has made endorsements in local elections coming in November. But the group has bucked tradition in Nyack and has not endorsed the candidate who won the Democratic primary

In the race for Nyack mayor, the Young Democrats have endorsed Democrat Denise Hogan, who is running on the Independence Party and Preserve Nyack lines on the ballot. She lost in a four-way Democratic primary to fellow Village Board member Richard Kavesh.

“The reason we decided to endorse Denise is because over the years as village trustee, Denise has shown the courage to stand-up to special interests and taken a very active role in the well being of young Nyack residents.” said Young Democrats Co-President, Christopher Smith.

Organization Vice-President Ted Collins said members of the group think Kavesh will make a good mayor if elected, but they believe Hogan will look out for the interests of young people and develop affordable housing to keep young people in Rockland County.

The group’s decision came as a surprise to Kavesh, who said he was never interviewed by the group and did not have a chance to present his positions to them.

Kavesh said he was taking the issue to county Democratic Party officials, noting he was concerned that personal connections played a major role in the decision-making process of the Young Democrat leaders instead of backing the best candidate for the job.

The Young Democrats made the following endorsements: County Executive-Thom Kleiner; County Clerk-Paul Piperato; Rockland County Legislature-District 14- Robert Jackson; Town of Ramapo Supervisor-Christopher St. Lawrence-Town Council-Yitzy Ullman; Town of Clarkstown Supervisor-Alex Gormack- Town Council-Stephanie Hausner; Town of Clarkstown Clerk-David Carlucci; Town of Orangetown Supervisor-Suzanne Barclay; Town of Stony Point-Supervisor-Peter Muller; Town of Haverstraw-Supervisor-Howard Phillips-Town Council-Isidro Cancel; Mayor of Suffern-Dagan LaCorte; Mayor of Nyack-Denise Hogan (I-PN)

Ramapo launches plan to give emergency vehicles control of traffic signals

By Christoper St. Lawrence

The Town of Ramapo is undertaking an unparalleled safety project, which involves fitting traffic signals throughout the Town with the Opticom System, which allows emergency responders to control the signals from their vehicles when a fire truck, police car or ambulance responding to an emergency approaches an opticom-equipped intersection, the light automatically turns green.

The Town will be installing the Opticom System at 92 intersections throughout Ramapo, no community to my knowledge has attempted to do a project of this scale. The Opticom System will protect the lives of first responders, and save the lives of patients. Every minute counts when a critically ill person is being transported to a hospital.

Big Screen Classic Movie at the historic Lafayette Theater in Suffern on Saturday, October 10^th at 11:30 AM – “Night of the Hunter” (1955) starring Robert Mitchum and Shelley Winters. A religious fanatic marries a gullible widow whose young children are reluctant to tell him where their real father hid $10,000 he had stolen in a robbery. A Wurlitzer Organ Concert precedes each movie presentation, featuring Jeff Barker at the keyboard starting at 11 a.m. Ramapo senior citizens are admitted free of charge to all Big Screen Classic Movie in the series and all other tickets are priced at $7.00. Contact Phil Tisi at 357-5100 ext. 201 for further information.

Pumpkin Day on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at Clark Recreation Center, 59 Campbell Avenue, Suffern – 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Children will have fun picking and decorating pumpkins, dancing to music, bouncing in the bounce castle and taking home a Halloween goodie bag. Free to Town of Ramapo residents and for further information call 357-6100. In case of rain, pumpkins and goodie bags will be distributed to take home.

Sacred Heart Church presents The Zerbini Family Circus on Friday, October 9^th, two performances 5:15 PM and 7:30 PM featuring fun for the entire family – jugglers, pony rides, clowns, Tanaka the Trained Buffalo, trapeze artists, dog and animal shows, all performing under the Big Top. Ticket prices (pre-sale at the Sacred Heart Rectory/Sacred Heart School) $15.00 adults and $12.00 children (12 & under); at the door the day of the performance $18.00 adults and $15.00 children (12 & under). For further information call 357-1684.

Christopher St. Lawrence is supervisor of the Town of Ramapo.

How sweet it is!

By Alexander J. Gromack

In the 1960 presidential election, candidate John F. Kennedy made a point about the ‘missile gap’ that existed between the USSR and the USA. The USSR was what they used to call the Soviet Union which is now called something else altogether.

During the cold war, a missile gap was a pretty serious thing.

The last thing any one would want would be to lag behind the Russians in the number of missiles that could carry nuclear weapons. The more missiles the Russians had the more times we could be killed in a thermonuclear explosion and who would want that?

Being vaporized once is more than enough.

Whether or not the ‘gap’ ever really existed is a moot point. Enough Americans believed that it did and like they say “Perception is reality.”

The public relations success of the ‘gap’ strategy spawned a number of other similar strategies. It seemed we were always behind someone. There was the space race ‘gap’, the biological weapons ‘gap’, the educational ‘gap’, the technological ‘gap’, the health care “gap.”

We were so often behind the rest of the world that I wonder why we always felt like we were number one.

Anyways, as you might expect there’s a new gap on the horizon and some sort of drastic and immediate action must be taken if the United States is to meet this current challenge.

It seems that our present import policy on sugar will, if not checked, lead to a national shortage of sugar with most of the sweet stuff going some place else.

At first glance, many of us might not fully grasp the significance of a sugar shortage but a deeper look proves that there’s far more to it than meets the eye or in this case the tongue. The number and types of everyday consumer edibles that need sugar is staggering and a shortage could have a devastating impact.

In fact, in a letter sent to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, CEO’s from Kraft and other food giants warned that without increased access to imported sugar, “consumers will pay higher prices, food manufacturing jobs will be at risk and trading patterns will be distorted.”

America can’t just stand by and let the ‘sugar gap’ go unchecked.

Some have suggested reopening trade with Cuba which just happens to be revamping its sugar manufacturing industry.

It may be a bitter pill to swallow but with a spoonful of sugar I’m sure the medicine will go down.

Alexander J. Gromack is supervisor of the Town of Clarkstown.

Assembly Needs to Pass Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Legislation

By Thomas Morahan

Several weeks ago we commemorated the eighth anniversary of the September 11^th attack on our nation. At that time, during the Senate session in Albany, I introduced a bill which was passed by the New York State Senate which would include post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among the list of biologically based mental illnesses to be covered under Timothy's Mental Health Parity Law. This legislation includes persons exposed to acts of terrorism, as well as veterans who have been in combat under Timothy’s Law.

According to a study issued in 2007, twenty percent of troops, about 300,000, returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan report symptoms of PTSD, depression, or severe traumatic brain injury. As the Ranking Member of the Senate’s Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Committee, this landmark legislation includes language to ensure that victims of violent crime, childhood abuse, and those exposed to catastrophic events are included under the umbrella of Timothy’s Law.

PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of a traumatic event. A traumatic event is a life-threatening event such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or physical or sexual assault in adult or childhood. PTSD is a real problem and can happen at any age. It affects nearly eight million American adults. A number of important physiological differences have been found in individuals diagnosed with PTSD compared with individuals without the disorder which support the inclusion of PTSD within the list of biologically based mental illnesses that are covered under NYS's Mental Health Parity Law.

While the prevalence of PTSD in the general population is small, it is relatively high when you look at certain subgroups of the population that are affected by it. Veterans who have been in combat, victims of violent crimes such as rape, survivors of childhood abuse, and persons exposed to catastrophic events such as natural disasters or terrorism all suffer from much higher rates of PTSD.

Additionally the symptoms are very real and debilitating. Left untreated, PTSD is highly associated with serious medical ailments leading to significant physical debilitation and even premature death. Further, suicide risk for PTSD patients is considerably higher than among unaffected populations.

It is critical that our returning veterans, victims of other violent crimes and others suffering from PTSD are afforded the care they need through their insurance coverage to address their disease. That is why I am urging Members of the Assembly to support this important legislation.

Thomas Morahan is a state senator representing Rockland County.

Murphy co-sponsors autism symposium

NEW CITY – Rockland County Legislator John Murphy will co-sponsor the fourth annual Rockland Autism Symposium on Nov. 9, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the Pearl River Hilton.

The symposium is co-facilitated by The Venture Foundation, the Autism Science Foundation and underwritten by a generous contribution from MindWorks Charitable Lead Trust.

The keynote speaker is Dr. Thomas Insel, executive director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Other featured speakers include Dr. Bennett L. Leventhal, deputy director, Nathan Kline Institute, NYU Child Study Center and Alison Singer, executive director of the Autism Science Foundation.

“We are pleased, once again, to present an exceptional program with presentations from leading professionals in the field of Autism Spectrum Disorders,” said Murphy, “We are again grateful for the influence and generosity of our primary sponsor, MindWorks Charitable Lead Trust.”

Murphy added, “Our symposium coincides with the announcement, just this past Friday, from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that the prevalence of autism disorders is now estimated at 1 in 100 children, a dramatic increase over the previous estimate of 1 in 150. That is 673,000 American children that have an autism disorder. These numbers are mind-boggling and there is no definitive plan for their care once they reach adulthood.”

Admission to the symposium is free, but registration is required. Complimentary breakfast and lunch will be provided. To make a reservation and to learn additional information about the symposium and featured speakers, go to www.rocklandautismsymposium.com.

A new era begins for the Town of Ramapo Challenger Center

By Christopher P. St. Lawrence

The idea of a Challenger Learning Center being located in the Town of Ramapo was conceived in 1994 by Suffern High School senior Kristina Rodriguez. Kristina was enrolled in Phil Tisi’s collegiate-level Public Policy class which was taught at Suffern High School in conjunction with Syracuse University. After receiving an A+ for her assignment, Rodriguez and Tisi endeavored to make a student’s dream become a reality. They hosted a community informational meeting which attracted over 100 enthusiastic community members – and the Lower Hudson Valley Challenger Foundation was born.

A group of hardworking and visionary volunteers began a 14-year journey which has produced miraculous results. They successfully overcame obstacle after obstacle – from procuring land for the Center site to raising over $2 million to design, build and operate the facility. Individuals such as Tony Santucci, Ken Rosen, Paul Goldhammer, Councilman David J. Stein, Karen Stein and many other dedicated community volunteers have devoted hundreds and thousands of hours making Kristina Rodriguez’ dream become reality.

The Town of Ramapo’s acquisition of this state-of-the-art interactive learning center will enhance the Challenger Center’s programming, upgrade the Center’s technological capability and increase community use of the facility. The Town of Ramapo looks forward to collaborating with BOCES, the Town of Ramapo Challenger Foundation, the National Challenger Center for Space Science Education, school districts and local community groups to continue Challenger’s mission to learn, to explore and to inspire. We anticipate introducing new programs such as:

Seniors in Space” – giving our Ramapo seniors the opportunity to land on Mars!

“Space Exploration for Secondary Students at the Challenger Center” – adding a high school enrichment component to the current program.

“Full-Day Science Experience” – which will include a space flight at the Challenger Center, viewing of a movie about space exploration at the historic Lafayette Theater and a visit to the Rockland County Solid Waste Authority Recycling Center.

The Challenger Center is a welcome addition to the cultural and recreational amenities which have made the Town of Ramapo one of the best places to live in America.

VANDERHOEF’S 2009
RE-ELECTION BID ENDORSED BY 11 LAW-ENFORCEMENT UNIONS

Rockland County and NYPD Policemen’s Benevolent Associations among supporters

NEW CITY – Scott Vanderhoef, Rockland’s County Executive, today was joined by representatives of 11 of the region’s largest law-enforcement unions to announce that the organizations are endorsing Vanderhoef’s bid for re-election in November.

The unions that endorsed Vanderhoef were:

Orangetown Patrolman’s Benevolent Association
New York City Police Department Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association
Rockland County Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association
Rockland County Sheriff’s Deputies Association.
New York City Police Department Lieutenants Benevolent Association
Rockland County Correction Officers Benevolent Association
Rockland County Sheriff’s Department Correction Officers Sergeants’ Union
New York City Police Department Captains Endowment Association
Affiliated Police Unions of Westchester County
Rockland County Sheriff Deputies Association
Detectives Endowment Association of New York City

“I’m very grateful to receive the support so many of the unions representing the men and women who keep Rockland’s residents safe,” said Vanderhoef. “I’ve always believed it is important to give our police, sheriffs and correction officers the resources they require and deserve. This support for law enforcement is essential to preserving the great standard of living enjoyed by Rockland’s residents, and if I’m re-elected I promise to continue to do all I can to protect the health and safety of the county’s residents and support our law-enforcement officers.”

Jim Kelly, president of the Rockland County Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, praised Vanderhoef’s support for law-enforcement agencies.

“We stand here united today with our brothers from New York City to endorse Scott Vanderhoef’s re-election campaign for county executive,” said Kelly. “Scott has always fought diligently to provide our police departments with the assets we need to keep our residents safe in our fight against crime. With terror threats remaining ever prevalent, we believe that Scott’s leadership and vision would be most beneficial for the residents of Rockland County.”

Vanderhoef previously was endorsed by:

Chauffeurs, Teamsters & Helpers Local Union No. 445
Communications Workers of America Local 1107
Supreme Court Officers Association

Vanderhoef, a fiscal conservative who has worked as County Executive for the people of Rockland for the past 16 years, believes that government should run like a successful business. He has reduced the size of the County’s work force to 1984 levels, consolidated or eliminated one-third of County departments and has kept Rockland’s tax rate among the lowest in New York State. As Rockland’s County Executive, Vanderhoef has created 1,900 units of affordable housing with 200 more in development, helped attract 40 new businesses to Rockland and preserved more than 1,110 acres of open space.

For more information see www.Vanderhoef09.com.

State requiring health insurers to cover children’s flu shots

By Thomas Morahan

I am pleased to inform you that New York State is now requiring that health insurers cover seasonal flu and novel H1N1 vaccinations for children who are aged 19 and younger and enrolled in comprehensive health plans. This very recent action helps ensure New York is prepared for the coming flu season.

In the last few months health officials in Rockland and Orange Counties have been working hard to develop comprehensive plans to minimize the effects of the virus. Several weeks ago I convened a meeting of local school superintendents and health and hospital officials to discuss some of these measures and ensure that youngsters in our schools, as well as families have access to the resources they need to keep their children healthy.

Parents especially need to know this flu season, preventive care is available, and their insurance company will cover it. In addition, no child who lacks health insurance will be denied access to the vaccine due to inability to pay. Uninsured children will get access to free vaccines through the Vaccines for Children program and local health department flu vaccine clinics.

Rockland and Orange Counties will shortly be receiving batches of the novel H1N1 vaccine from the federal government. The vaccine will be distributed to medical providers, including pediatricians, who sign up to receive it.

The Centers for Disease Control determined priority groups to receive the novel H1N1 influenza vaccine are pregnant women, children and young adults from 6 months old to 24 years old, and people aged 25 to 64 years old with underlying medical conditions. The individuals in these prioritized groups are strongly encouraged to get the novel H1N1 influenza vaccine when it becomes available. Individuals at risk for complications, particularly those with underlying medical conditions or those who are pregnant, who experience flu-like symptoms at any time should contact their health care provider immediately for treatment.

I also want to take this time to remind residents of the lower Hudson Valley to continue to adhere to the precautionary measures that have been recommended by the medical community. These simple measures include:

Washing hands often with soap and warm water. Alcohol-based hand cleansers are also effective;
Avoiding close contact with people who are ill;
Staying home from work or school if sick;
Using tissues when coughing or sneezing, or sneezing into your sleeve, not your hands; and
Keeping hands away from the eyes, nose or mouth.

More information about novel H1N1 influenza is available at www.nyhealth.gov.

Thomas Morahan is a state senator representing Rockland County.

HEALTHY RESPONSIBLE ROCKLAND

3 Point Plan to Fight Obesity, Save Tax Payers Money, and Help Rocklanders Live Longer; Healthier Lives

NEW CITY – Orangetown Supervisor and Democratic County Executive candidate Thom Kleiner announced this week his new Healthy Responsible Rockland Initiative; a county-wide plan to reduce obesity, improve the health of Rockland residents and save taxpayers money. Kleiner urged the legislature to act immediately, but also pledged that as County Executive, it would be his priority to find new and innovative ways to reduce costs and spending by the County.

“Today, I am proposing a 3 point plan to help Rocklanders lose weight and lead healthier lifestyles. This is not only critical for the health and well being of everyone in Rockland County, but will also have a direct impact on the taxes we all pay,” Kleiner explained. “This year, according to the New York State Department of Health the health impact of obesity will cost Rockland County taxpayers an estimated $97.9 million in avoidable medical costs. My proposal will emphasize personal responsibility by giving individuals the opportunity to make smart, healthier choices regarding what they eat, while eliminating unnecessary and unhealthy products from our foods.”

Obesity will cost Rockland County an estimated $97.9 million this year in additional medical costs and more than half of that, $50 million, will be for Medicaid. That’s 80% of the $63 million Rockland County will contribute to Medicaid this year. Tackling the obesity problem in Rockland will not only improve public health and save lives, but will also save the County money.

Kleiner also revealed that among Hudson Valley Counties, Rockland has the second-highest rate of mortality from heart disease and stroke and third highest stroke mortality rate.

“Failure to act in light of these statistics would be irresponsible,” Kleiner stated. “Losing a parent or spouse to heart disease or stroke is devastating, but the County has the ability to take action now to help people stay healthy and lower these statistics.”

The Health Rockland Initiative would:

· Ban Trans-Fats in restaurants

· Promote personal responsibility by requiring chain restaurants to post calorie information

· Teach kids healthy habits by promoting healthier drinks and foods in Rockland schools

· Call on the FDA to stop Healthy Choice Labels from spreading misinformation about the nutritional content of foods

Chairwoman of the Rockland County Legislature Harriet Cornell stated "Our responsibility as adults, as public officials is both to encourage personal responsibility and to protect the most vulnerable--our children. Those who market foods loaded with sugar or trans-fats to children under the guise of "Smart Choices" labels are doing great harm to them. We need leaders like Thom Kleiner to take multiple steps--encouraging personal responsibility by adults, working with county legislative leaders and health professionals to create local legislation, and forging alliances on the state and national levels to ensure that agencies like the FDA truly protect our children and do not look away while clever marketing masks dangerous health risks."

Legislator Alden Wolfe has been working on a trans fat ban since last year and will be introducing a ban in the coming months.

"I applaud Supervisor Kleiner's interest in taking this important health issue head on. Obesity is among the most critical health issues facing Rockland residents today. I look forward to discussing this and other policy issues with him in the months to come,” stated County Legislator Alden Wolfe.

“I am thrilled that Thom Kleiner recognizes the importance of our County’s health. This proposal is a bold step forward to improving the health of our children and saving taxpayers money,” stated County Legislator William L. Darden.

“Thom Kleiner’s leadership on obesity is exactly what Rocklanders should expect from their County Executive. This plan is a great first step in tackling obesity, high cholesterol and our ballooning Medicaid costs. By being proactive the county can protect lives while reducing our skyrocketing healthcare costs; saving taxpayers money,” stated County Legislator Jay Hood.

"Thom Kleiner has a proactive and energetic approach to all aspects of the health and safety of the residents of Rockland County. As a nurse-midwife and County Legislator I very much support these measures which will save lives, improve the health of our children and save taxpayers money," stated County Legislator Connie Coker.

“For years, public health specialists have been warning of a growing obesity epidemic, but for the past 16 years Rockland County has lacked innovative leadership to address this problem. Other counties, including Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk have moved forward with new approaches to reducing obesity; Rockland has sadly been left far behind. We must do better,” Kleiner concluded.

Thom Kleiner, Democratic nominee for County Executive, has been the Orangetown Supervisor for the past 14 years. He has built a reputation as a fiscally responsibly manager who has fought to keep taxes low. Under his leadership, Orangetown has received the highest bond rating in its history and the lowest or next to lowest taxes in Rockland County for the past five years.

GETTING SENIORS ADJUSTED TO SOCIAL SECURITY CHANGES

By Assemblywoman Annie Rabbitt (R,C,I-Greenwood Lake)

New York is growing older. According to the U.S. Census about one quarter of our country’s senior population lives in the Empire State, Florida, and California. The anticipated long-term increase of those 65 and older in New York has placed increasing emphasis on issues such as pensions, prescription drugs, and entitlements. Specifically, Social Security recipients – not simply those in New York but the nation’s 50 million beneficiaries – can expect changes to their payments in the coming years. That’s because the inflation-indexed program probably will not provide a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for the first time since 1975.

The reduced monthly benefits, combined with rising costs of pharmaceuticals and prescription drugs, could have a dampening effect on seniors’ quality of life. For most, the absence of a COLA will mean a pay freeze; for other seniors, however, those earning more than $86,000 per individual or $170,000 for a couple, Social Security-based income could actually shrink in 2010 unless we act. Those of us in the New York Legislature worked hard last session to provide our state’s seniors with a safety net for drug, property-tax, and housing payments. Now the U.S. Congress must act to fill the Social Security COLA loophole and protect seniors during the long economic recovery.

Last legislative session I continued to fight for mid-Hudson Valley seniors and their families. In 2009 I voted to protect Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) recipients from ineligibility due to an increase in pension payments or temporary Social Security benefits. The idea was simple: because EPIC conformed to Medicaid’s income requirements, an increase in fixed-income payments such as (public or private) pension payments or Social Security could disqualify them from the program, even as inflation pushed prescription-drug prices out of reach for an ever-expanding segment of New York’s seniors. I joined with my colleagues to take a pro-active approach to keeping drug costs low for senior citizens already enrolled in EPIC. Now, a similar administrative caveat threatens to push thousands of seniors off the Social Security COLA rolls, or cut monthly payments themselves, absent congressional action on this critically important issue.

Seniors would go without a COLA raise next year for the first time since the formula was added in 1975 to Social Security if nothing is done. The proposals currently before the House of Representatives fall into two categories: annual adjustments and one-time payments. If neither is enacted before the end of the current fiscal quarter then senior citizens will likely not see a raise in their Social Security benefits until 2012, according to the federal government’s actuaries, when the consumer price index is again expected to move upward. That’s a far cry from the 5.8 percent increase senior citizens received in 2009, thanks to high CPI last year – resulting from sky-high gas prices and granting Social Security beneficiaries the highest year-to-year hike in their payments since 1982. Many of these same seniors would be suffering a 2.7 percent cut to their benefits this year if not for a federal law preventing pay reductions based on deflation.

Social Security will remain a complex issue for lawmakers balancing aging populations with fragile budgets, but that doesn’t mean abandoning our obligation to current beneficiaries. The Congress must act to address the COLA loophole before the end of the current fiscal year to ensure that the seniors of the mid-Hudson Valley can offset the rising costs of living. We have already begun the process here in New York; now it is time for Washington to protect seniors from economic turbulence as well.

RABBITT: SCHEDULING A MAMMOGRAM CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE

October marks National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Assemblywoman Annie Rabbitt (R,I,C-Greenwood Lake) has joined with the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program in their October breast cancer awareness campaign to urge women to get mammograms. According to the National Cancer Institute, one in eight women, or about 12 percent, will be diagnosed with cancer of the breast during their lifetime.

Rabbitt took time to highlight the Adelphi University Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program. This campaign provides emotional support, information and referrals to women who have questions about breast cancer. The hotline, a product of the Adelphi University School of Social Work on Long Island, was created in 1980. It is funded through the New York State Legislature, the state Department of Health, grants, and contributions and can be reached at 1-800-877-8077. Many others also visit their Web site, www.adelphi.edu/nysbreastcancer, in order to find out how to get a low-cost or free mammogram by an accredited facility near them.

Despite the fact that nearly 95 percent of mammograms prove normal, many women do not get them regularly. The clear key to surviving breast cancer is early detection, with 61 percent of breast cancer cases diagnosed while the cancer is still confined to the primary site, or its “localized stage.” Once cancer is found in the localized stage, survival rates improve to 98.1 percent.

Said Rabbitt: “I am encouraging all women, regardless of age, race or family history, to take advantage of the Adelphi University Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program and make an appointment for your mammogram today. Don’t let another day go by – protect yourself today.”

Joined At The Hip

By Alexander J. Gromack

Do you have any idea how many Americans are walking around with artificial parts in their bodies?

Neither do I but one government study says that this year there will be over 1,000,000 procedures done to implant an artificial body part in Americans. Another study estimates that the number will double within the next two decades.

Still another study estimates that 45% of Americans, about 135 million, will end up with painful arthritis of the knee which of course in most cases will lead to a knee replacement.

It’s no wonder then that all those metal detectors keep going off at airport security posts.

Now I don’t want to confuse the implantation of artificial body parts with human organ transplants. The two procedures are quite different and each has its own set of ethical questions and problems.

The initiative behind the development and use of artificial body parts (ABP’s) came from the necessity and desire to ‘repair’ war time injuries where military personnel lost limbs in battle.

From that start, like every other initiative, imagination took flight and the use of ABP’s as a cure for other serious and non military health related issues started looking pretty good.

Like every new medical procedure there were some hard times and some failures. There still are. Some times the knee replacement doesn’t bend like it should or the spinal implant causes more problems than the original injury. Each ‘failure’ leads to better products, better procedures and better results.

This booming medical market which is driven by both economic and humane factors looks more and more promising as America gets older and older. The fact is that certain body parts wear out. The longer we stay alive the more chances that the part will wear out before we do and we are staying alive and active longer than we did before.

Maybe some day the evolutionary process will catch up to this design flaw but for now, the ABP seems like a good, but far from perfect approach.

There are some ethical problems in the ABP miracle.

Presumably any one of us could have more than one ABP at any given time and as the art of design progresses some of us may actually prefer them to our natural equipment. At what point do we lose us?

We’re safe right now because for many of us, it seems, the human and the ABP are still joined at the hip, so to speak.

Alexander J. Gromack is supervisor of the Town of Clarkstown.

PHARMACIES GET SHOT IN ARM FROM STATE THIS FLU SEASON

By Annie Rabbitt (R,C,I-Greenwood Lake)

This year’s flu season is approaching. Concerns have been heightened and nerves made more raw thanks to the media attention surrounding swine flu, or H1N1influenza. Though far less serious, seasonal influenza can cause respiratory problems, weakness, and, in some extraordinary cases, even death. Workers lose countless hours of productivity and millions of schoolchildren are homebound every year thanks to seasonal flu. But there is protection. Being proactive helps: Getting a vaccination takes only a couple of minutes and is effective against most strains of the virus. Studies have shown that when pharmacists offer flu shots at their locations the public responds by dramatically improving their rates of immunizations.

This year’s influenza shot protects against three new strains and is more available than ever to families living in the mid-Hudson Valley. Because of a bill approved by the state Assembly last year and signed into law by Governor Paterson, vaccinations for the 2009 flu season can be administered by several pharmacies in our area. This includes Walmart, ShopRite, Walgreens, and CVS. CVS and Rite Aid currently post schedules for the clinics on their Web sites and Walmart will hold clinic events at its Middletown location in October. Some flu symptoms are high fever, headache, extreme fatigue, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, upset stomach or muscle aches. Past research has demonstrated that effectively matched vaccinations can cut the chances of a healthy adult catching the virus by 70 to 90 percent, but be warned: the shot will not protect you against swine flu and should not be treated as an H1N1 vaccination. For staying well this fall and winter, information is your best defense.

It is recommended by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that certain people get vaccinated each year. However, anyone who wishes to reduce their chance of infection can also receive the shot. The former group is considered high-risk because they either are subject to certain flu-related complications and illnesses or live among or care for those who do. This group includes children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday; pregnant women; people 50 years of age and older; people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions; people who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities; health care workers; household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu; and household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age. It is not recommended that children under the age of six months receive the influenza immunization.

Thus far, several clinics in our area have either started or plan to offer the seasonal influenza vaccination. In Orange County these include Walgreens on Route 59 in Suffern, CVS at Indian Rock Plaza, also in Suffern, the Chester Avenue ShopRite in Chester, CVS on Clowes Avenue in Goshen, and Florida’s ShopRite on North Main Street. Some flu clinics will also be offering free vaccines for the unemployed. Vouchers for the shots can be obtained at the state Department of Labor’s One-Stop career centers.

The early availability of these clinics is due in large part to Assembly legislation which I supported. This measure permits certified pharmacists to administer the immunizations on-site, improving public health and saving money for hospitals and emergency rooms. There are currently 48 other states which offered influenza shots by pharmacists prior to the passage of the law in New York. The experience of these states demonstrated to me that we could not only drive down health care costs using this method but also raise public awareness about preventive medical services. For more information about where to find a participating pharmacist or to learn about flu symptoms, please visit www.flucliniclocator.org. Don’t leave yourself or a loved one vulnerable this flu season – prepare today.

Annie Rabbitt, R,C,I-Greenwood Lake, is a state Assembly member.

MTA payroll tax starts to put pinch on the self-employed

On Nov. 2, certain employers and self-employed individuals doing business within the 12-county Metropolitan Transportation Authority region will be forced to submit the first of what will be quarterly filings. The .34 percent tax on businesses was imposed as part of the $2.9 billion MTA bailout passed earlier this year by Gov. David Paterson and his Democrat allies Speaker Sheldon Silver and then Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith.

“The Albany insiders who forced the MTA bailout through the state Legislature originally sold it as a payroll tax on their employees,” said Assemblywoman Nancy Calhoun. “That was bad enough. Now we learn that it also applies to 34 cents of every $100 of income for the self-employed as well. This self-employment tax is another sorry example of Albany’s out-of-touch leadership, and yet one more reason why I stand by my original opposition to the hasty, mismanaged bailout of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.”

In accordance with the MTA bailout, for the tax year 2009, estimated tax payments are due on Nov. 2, for the period of Jan. 1 through Sept. 30. For the time period of Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, tax payments will be due on Feb. 1, 2010. To calculate the amount of tax due, individuals and businesses should use nine months of their projected annual taxable income if they have earned over $10,000 for 2009. Self-employed individuals must comply with this same threshold even if they file a joint income tax return.

Those with questions regarding this payroll tax are encouraged to contact their accountant and and/or visit http://www.tax.state.ny.us/wt/mta_partnership.htm for more information.

REP. ENGEL ANNOUNCES OVER $1.2 MILLION FOR STATEWIDE SMART GRID TRANSITION

Recovery Act Funding Targets Modernizing Nation’s Electrical System

Congressman Eliot Engel announced that the New York State Public Service Commission will receive $1,246,777 from the United States Department of Energy (DOE), as part of the DOE’s efforts to implement the Smart Grid and modernize the nation’s electrical system. The funding was part of the $144 million allocated nationwide to the program, and was made available thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

The $144 million was divided between $44 million in awards to state public utility commissions and $100 million for smart grid workforce training programs. The investment is designed to encourage growth in renewable energy sources, empower consumers to reduce usage, and to help America’s road to recovery from the economic downturn towards a more sustainable future.

“Earlier this year, the House passed The American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES). I believe the revamping of our nation’s energy policy will not only create millions of new clean energy jobs, save consumers billions of dollars in energy costs, enhance America's energy independence, and cut global warming pollution. The smart grid and electrical system reforms are an important step in that process. We must have a new energy policy to finally free us from our dependence on foreign oil,” said Rep. Engel, the senior New York member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The grants help foster a 21^st century economy by working to substantially upgrade America’s mid-20^th century grid system. The grants will:

Help state public utility commissions to regulate and oversee projects in the states.
Develop training programs to educate workers in order to achieve a national, clean energy smart grid.
Accelerate reviews of electric utility requests into advancements such as carbon capture and storage, transmission lines and electric and hybrid-electric vehicles.

Energy efficiency and conservation are vital to the nation’s needs, not only with regard to costs, but also as they pertain to climate change and national security. Rep. Engel has introduced legislation to help break America’s addiction to foreign oil. The Open Fuel Standard Act (H.R. 1476) would require half of all cars made or sold in America by 2012, and 80% by 2015, to be flexible fuel vehicles. These vehicles would be able to run on gasoline, or alcohol-based fuels such as methanol or ethanol, or a combination of both. Alcohol fuels, including both ethanol and methanol; offer the potential for significant supplies of fuels that can be produced in the United States, and in other Western Hemisphere countries friendly to the United States.

“I will continue to fight for the Open Fuel Standard Act, portions of which were included in ACES. Flex-fuel vehicles allow for competition and consumer choice in the transportation fuel market which would serve to end oil’s monopoly in the transportation sector, strip oil of its strategic status, and protect consumers from price gouging at the pump. Flex-fuel vehicles are estimated to cost only $100 more than the same car in a gasoline-only version. Some experts say the added cost could be as low as $30. It is a simple and inexpensive modification that should be standard in cars, like seatbelts or airbags,” said Rep. Engel.

“Grants, such as this one, which invests in energy solutions, will strengthen our economy and create jobs at the local level,” said Rep. Engel. “It will lay the groundwork needed for an America which is energy independent. I want to thank President Obama for having the foresight to include in ARRA such funding which finally addresses our long-ignored energy crisis,” added Rep. Engel.

New York received the third most funding, behind only California and Texas.

Cornell urges support of Full-Service Community Schools Act

NEW CITY – Rockland County Legislative Chairwoman Harriet Cornell has sponsored a resolution in the Legislature urging support for passage of the Full-Service Community Schools Act of 2009, introduced in the House of Representatives by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD).

Full-service community schools are public elementary or secondary schools that participate in a community-based effort to coordinate educational, developmental, family, health and other comprehensive services through community-based organizations and public and private partnerships. They provide access to such services to students, families, and the community.

Chairwoman Cornell, long a staunch advocate on progressive educational issues, stated: “It is now fully known how important the home and community are to the education of our children. When you improve one, you improve them all, and you greatly increase the odds of every child getting the best possible education he or she can get.”

Cornell has an extensive history in the effective integration of school and community programs. She was instrumental in the founding of Rockland 21C, an innovative family, school, community collaboration that assists eight Rockland County School Districts in supporting thirty family resource centers, runs a literacy-based home visitation program for two and three-year olds utilizing AmeriCorps members and provides educational symposia on current topics for the community. She has chaired Rockland 21C for the past twelve years. In 2005 she created an ad hoc committee which developed the influential report to Congress on No Child Left Behind, entitled: Rockland’s Voices: Making the Case for Amending the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002.

Congressman Eliot Engel, one of the co-sponsors of the bill, said “Leading educators, along with President Obama and Education Secretary Duncan, are giving their strong support to this new generation of schools. Full-service community schools see better parent participation, higher attendance, and higher student achievement. As a former educator, I must stress that those results are exactly what we are all looking for.”

The Full-Services Community School Act would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to award grants for the support of full-service community schools. The Act authorizes $200 million during the 2010-2014 fiscal years. Seventy-five percent of these funds would be allocated for local educational and social service programs at full-service school locations, such as early childhood programs, literacy and reading training, parenting education activities, job training and career counseling, nutrition services, and primary and health care. Twenty percent of the funds would be allocated to state collaboratives dedicated to furthering the development of full-service community schools through technical assistance and training, professional development, and periodic assessments. The remaining five percent of the funds will be used for technical assistance and evaluation.

“I know that money is tight across the country,” said Cornell, “but that’s all the more reason to support this bill. Money used to better the education of our children, support their healthy development and strengthen the fabric of our communities is money wisely invested and, in the long run, money—and lives-- saved.”

Green New York Act of 2009… An Important Step Toward Improving Our Economy and Helping Our Environment

By Thomas Morahan

On September 10^th the Green New York Act of 2009 passed the New York State Senate. This landmark legislation, which I co sponsored, is expected to create 14,000 family-sustaining jobs with the goal of retrofitting one million homes, businesses, and not for profits in the next five years, reducing carbon emissions caused by outmoded construction, and saving New Yorkers upwards of $1 billion annually in energy savings.

About 40 percent of Rockland County's owner-occupied units were built before 1970, making them big energy users. This program would serve "the missing middle" -- owners who surpass the income ceiling for the Weatherization Assistance Program but cannot afford retrofits on their own. Heating an energy-inefficient home may cost these owners between $ 3,000 and $ 4,000 per year.

The program will be funded with revenue raised by the auction of carbon emission credits through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. This funding will be used to leverage private and federal investments. The bill allocates $112 million from these auctions to MISREAD. Auctions of carbon emission credits over the last two years raised $126 million, with an estimated $75 million more expected in the next two auctions this year alone.

NYSERDA will establish a revolving loan program to provide up to $13,000 per residential customer to retrofit a home, and up to $26,000 to retrofit each qualifying business, and also conduct energy audits, program administration and a credit enhancement for critical private sector capital investments.

The program will front the cost of the work, enabling property owners to afford energy efficient retrofits. Although property owners will repay the full cost over time, their total energy usage will be reduced by 30-40%, and the loan payment on their energy bill will be less than what they saved, yielding a net saves to the property owner. Local contractors, certified to perform the retrofits will be able to expand their crews, creating new and permanent jobs in green construction and additional jobs in local businesses and manufacturing that serve those new workers. Loans will be eligible to home and business owners in rural and urban communities throughout the state, including Rockland and Orange Counties.

By passing the Green Jobs/Green New York Act with bipartisan support we have taken an important step toward improving our economy and helping our environment. For additional information on NYSERDA programs you can call 1-866-NYSERDA .

Thomas Morahan is a state senator representing Rockland County.

LAFAYETTE THEATER

RE-OPENS SEPT. 18

By Christopher St. Lawrence

One of the Top Ten Movie Palaces in the United States re-opens for business on Friday, September 18, with our good friend Nelson Page once again running the operation.

Late in 2002, Nelson took a long term lease to operate the Theater, completely refurbishing the auditorium, adding a 1930s era chandelier and continuing to screen first run movies. Early this year Nelson’s management contract ended, and now with his return, the Lafayette Theater will be bigger and better than ever. The Town of Ramapo co-produced the popular Saturday morning “Big Screen Classics” Film Festival for the past six years. On Oct. 3, our Fall Big Screen Classics Series will begin with the screening of the 1938 Cinema Classic “Angels With Dirty Faces” starring James Cagney, Pat O’Brien and Humphrey Bogart.

To ensure that this single screen cultural jewel remains competitive for years to come, the Town of Ramapo has entered into a Public-Private Partnership with Nelson Page, CEO of Majestic-Star Entertainment. This agreement will facilitate the theater remaining viable for the next generation and help insulate the venue from negative competitive forces in the motion picture industry. The Town would utilize the facility in the future to hold meetings, special cultural programs, and host promotional events designed to spur economic development. Interconnectivity between the Lafayette Theater and Town Hall will also be established. Next week, I will provide you with a complete list of our Fall “Big Screen Classics” Films.

Christopher St. Lawrence is supervisor of the Town of Ramapo.

Ball Also Accepts Invitation to Comment on Proposed Health Care System Impact

On page 2 of the August 14 issue of the Rockland Review, John Iurica wrote an article speaking of various issues that were proposed for future health care. He also invited Rockland’s three Congressmen and the People who are running against them to respond to his article. Congressman Engel has already done so, and was published in the August 28 issue. You readers may have a little difficulty recognizing this writer as he is presently a New York State Assemblyman who had previously served with the Air Force and came out as a Captain. He is running against the incumbent in the Congressional District that includes Stony Point and Haverstraw. Be careful, his name is very similar to that of the incumbent. The following are Greg Ball’s words.

BALL PRESENTS HEALTH CARE REFORM PLAN OF ACTION

A Legislative Column from Assemblyman Greg Ball ®, C, I - Patterson)

The national debate raging over "Obamacare" has serious state and local implications. From my discussions with many residents in the Hudson Valley, there is a growing consensus that HR 3200 does not address the crisis of the uninsured adequately, busts the bank upon the backs of future generations and ultimately may ration the quality of care to a point unacceptable to most Americans.

With the President's recent address I was hopeful that this new President would find the strength to shun the extremists in his party, currently controlling the debate, and forge a more pragmatic approach. It seems obvious to me that the opportunity that rests before this President is an historic opportunity to work in a bipartisan fashion to achieve serious and cost-effective solutions.

I do believe that reforms are needed, yet I proudly join the ranks of the millions opposed to an expensive and massive government takeover of health care. That said, in a country as great as ours, just saying no is not a reasonable alternative. And while the President of the United States is a superb orator, with rhetorical speeches marking his short tenure, many Americans are beginning to wonder, "Where's the beef?"

The President's plan is short on details and something must be done. As a state legislator who has been wrangling with the issue of health care since being elected, and having a personal understanding of the current system's impacts upon seniors, working families and veterans, I know all too well that reform is certainly needed and I have worked hard at a state level to bring about meaningful reforms in health care.

In the coming weeks, I will be unveiling a set of proposals, asking our federal representatives to refuse to embrace a massive government takeover, but instead forge these ideas into a moderate, thoughtful and effective solution that can be accepted and adopted in a truly bipartisan manner.

The following proposals are the result of my discussions with many constituents from my various Town Hall meetings:

a.. Every American, regardless of pre-existing health conditions, should be eligible for health insurance.

b.. We should embrace innovative ways that allow providers to cut out middle men, insurance companies, by providing direct care at an affordable price.

c.. Any health care model Congress passes, they should themselves abide by.

d.. Allow dependents to remain on their parents' health policies up to the age of 25.

e.. Partner immediately with small businesses throughout the United States, through direct subsidies and indirect tax incentives; strengthen employer-provided health coverage by helping small businesses bridge the "affordability gap."

f.. Pass comprehensive Tort Reform by immediately getting runaway lawsuits in check.

g.. Improve access to health savings accounts and flexible spending arrangements while creating new tax benefits to offset the cost of long-term care premiums.

h.. We must make it clear that we will tolerate no cuts to Medicare.

i.. Adopt effective initiatives capable of ascertaining one's unlawful immigration status.

j.. Help families keep their health insurance regardless of a change or loss of a job.

k.. Let small businesses band together to purchase high-quality health care.

These ideas provide a framework, not for a massive government takeover, but for a solution driven answer to insure millions of working Americans who are currently uninsured, without busting the bank, without lowering the quality of care and by working with, instead of against, private enterprise.

I am glad I took the time to host Town Hall meetings throughout the district, to listen to voters and concerned residents. I only hope that their concerns and great ideas will be heard and adopted in our nation's capitol in an attempt to improve the debate.

9/11 must never be forgotten

By Christopher St. Lawrence

On the morning of September 11, 2001 more than 3,000 average Americans left the tranquility of their homes never to return. To this day, the remains of 1,300 have never been found, and probably will never be found, leaving their families in terrible agony.

These victims for the most part were not military personnel, mercenaries or soldiers of fortune, but rather family bread winners, firemen, policemen, emergency service personnel, secretaries, kitchen workers, custodians, stockbrokers, tourists from around the world and countless other innocents. All were victimized by the most devastating assault on the American mainland in our history. To those of us within earshot of the World Trade Center massacre, scenes of stunned disbelief and horrific suffering, accompanied by the din crumbling skyscrapers, will forever be etched in our collective psyche. The greatest generation of Americans overcame two World Wars, the Great Depression, the fanaticism of Adolf Hitler and the scourge of Communism. Now our generation faces perhaps the most formidable enemy that nay generation of Americans has ever encountered because it is nameless, faceless, fearless, and lies in our midst.

On September 11, 2001, America was once again tested by forces that would seek to destroy her. Thankfully, this generation of Americans stands ready to defend, and to pass on, the precious liberties that are the legacy of our forefathers. However, some historians predict that the popular culture eventually will place September 11^th in the same category as Memorial Day, holidays laden with a significance and gravitas that were slowly diluted by time.

For a date so replete with emotion, images and pain diluting the 9/11 anniversary seems impossible to fathom, especially in places such as Washington, DC and New York. But some historians contend that decades from now September 11^th might take on a different dimension such as Memorial Day, which was first designated as a time to remember Americans who died in any war, but for many people today is considered a weekend getaway and the start of summer. One hopes that this never happens.

Throughout American history our freedom, resilience and courage has always prevailed over tyranny. It will in the future if the significance of the First Terrorist Attack on our mainland by a group of fanatical terrorists does not become another holiday on which Americans grill hot dogs, go to sales, or spend a long weekend at a quaint bed and breakfast.

Next year on the Tenth Anniversary of the 9/11 Attack, the Town of Ramapo will dedicate a “Garden of Heroes” to honor the memory of local service personnel who sacrificed their lives after 9/11 fighting terrorism around the world over and protecting the safety of the United States of America.

Christopher St. Lawrence is supervisor of the Town of Ramapo.

UNDERAGE DRINKING…NOT A MINOR PROBLEM

By Thomas Morahan

As the Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities I have oversight responsibility for the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS). I am concerned about the latest information that is coming from this agency, including the statistic that twenty-two percent of tenth graders and nearly thirty percent of twelfth graders are heavy drinkers. Alcohol is closely related to dropouts, truancy, low literacy, and poor grades –so it is important for responsible adults to communicate underage drinking messages.

The enforcement of the underage drinking laws requires an awareness and commitment from parents, schools, communities, clergy, healthcare and law enforcement professionals. The health and safety of our children, families and communities cannot be compromised due to the devastating, and often fatal consequences of underage drinking.

Parents in particular can make the greatest impact. They need to give their children a clear no-use message. Research shows that when parents clearly communicate to their children about their expectations to abstain from drinking alcohol, as well as set consistent boundaries and have regular discussions about alcohol, teens and preteens are far less likely to drink. No parent wants to think of their child as one of the thousands of teens who drink – or about the things that can happen when they do. Still, by the time they’re in their senior year of high school, four out of five teens have consumed alcohol. The time to act is now.

By parents showing interest in their children they are clearly showing them that they care. By staying involved, parents take an important step toward keeping their youngsters healthy and safe from alcohol use. I urge parents and guardians to monitor their children’s activity; know where they are going, who will be there, and when they are expected to be home. Be sure to call ahead to be certain there will be responsible adult supervision.

Finally, I urge parents to take responsibility to learn about what’s happening in their community, and about the prevention programs that are available in the local school. All the research that has been presented to me shows that parents are the most influential factor in protecting their children from engaging in high risk behaviors, including underage drinking.

Thomas Morahan is a state senator representing Rockland County.

Obama plan doesn’t meet the needs of ununinsured

By Greg Ball

Because the Obama Health care bill, HR 3200 does not address the crisis of the uninsured adequately, busts the bank upon the backs of future generations and ultimately may ration the quality of care to a point unacceptable to most Americans; I proudly join thousands of New Yorkers and millions of Americans opposed to this expensive and massive government takeover of healthcare as we know it.

Yet in a country as great as ours, just saying no is not a reasonable alternative. As a state legislator who has been wrangling with the issue of healthcare since being elected in 2006, and having a personal understanding of the current system’s rationing of care by insurance companies, and I know all too well that reform is certainly needed.

A prime example of the situation we face in New York is an unusual flaw in existing insurance law enteral formula coverage requirements. The family of Hannah Devane resides in my district. Hannah is a three year old girl who suffers from eosinophilic esophagitis, a potentially fatal condition that makes it impossible for her to eat most foods.

Hannah's medical insurance provider already provides coverage for the cost of enteral formulas, but only under conditions that require tube feeding. This company policy gives rise to the circumstance whereby Hanna's parents must incur significant out-of-pocket costs for the enteral formula needed to sustain her life, or choose to have the cost of the formula covered but delivered through a feeding tube.

As the next Congressman, I would fight to rectify situations like these. Every American, regardless of pre-existing health conditions, should be eligible for health insurance. We should embrace innovative ways that allow providers to cutout the middle man, insurance companies, by providing direct care at an affordable price. My retainer medical care bill A7484, would make retainer medical care a reality in New York and is a good model.

For any legislation that Congress passes, the members should have to abide by it. All members of Congress should embrace the concept that medical decisions are best made by patients and their doctors, not government bureaucrats.

We should force insurance companies to allow dependents to remain on their parents’ health policies up to the age of 25, reducing the number of uninsured Americans by 7 million.

The federal government should partner immediately with small businesses throughout the country, and either through direct subsidies or indirect tax incentives, strengthen employer-provided health coverage by helping small businesses bridge the ‘affordability gap’ to increase coverage for up to 10 million uninsured middle class and lower income Americans.

We must allow more Americans to gain access to quality health care by immediately passing medical malpractice liability reform. Junk lawsuits make doctors practice defensive medicine and prevent access to medical care.

Any plan must improve access to health savings accounts and flexible spending arrangements while creating new tax benefits to offset the cost of long-term care premiums.

We must make it clear that we will tolerate no cuts to Medicare. Medicare must be strengthened and not used as a piggy bank.

We must assist working families be ensuring insurance portability so families keep their health insurance regardless of a change in or loss of job.

Lastly, we must let small businesses band together to purchase high-quality health care for their employees at a more affordable price, just as large corporations and unions do.

This country is great not because of our government, but because of our people, and that underlying reality is exactly why a debate on healthcare reform that allows input from the public is so vitally important. We must make sure that the extremists on both sides do not prevent necessary, real and commonsense reform from happening.

Assemblyman Gregory R. Ball is a Republican candidate for Congress in New York’s 19^th congressional district, which includes Stony Point, West Haverstraw, and portions of Haverstraw.

When things break

By Alexander J. Gromack

When you buy a major appliance or a new car you get at least the manufacturers warranty. Those warranties tend to ‘cover’ you for a specific number of years or certain amounts of usage. Once you hit the magic number though, all bets are off.

You can, if you want to be really careful, buy an extended warranty. That usually provides coverage which takes effect when the manufacturer’s warranty expires.

Some consumer protection groups advise against the extended warranties and in some cases the cost of the extended coverage almost eclipses the value of the item being covered; so extended warranties aren’t necessarily the best of deals.

Nevertheless, the salesperson ‘assisting’ you when you are making your original purchase will try and convince you that an extended warranty is like extra armor against the missiles of time. If you listen to them, deciding not to get an extended warranty is a lot like unplugging your iron lung.

It may save you money in the short run but you’re going to pay big time.

Even if you don’t buy into the extended warranty at the original point of sale, you will get a second crack at it, whether you want it or not. Just about the time that the manufacturers warranty is about to run out, you’ll get a letter or a phone call from someone you never met who has, apparently, taken an unexpected and intense interest in your welfare and the welfare of your car, TV set, washing machine or treadmill.

The letters are personalized and dramatic. You can’t help but feel that you would be endangering the safety and welfare of your entire family including your pets if you don’t sign on the dotted line and return the contract.

The phone call always comes at dinner because they know you’ll be at home. The caller generally knows your name or an approximation. He or she will tell you how wise you are to protect your investment for the next ten years at pennies a day..lots of pennies a day.

If you can survive all these tactics and still remain ‘unprotected’ there is always that lingering doubt that maybe you aren’t as good a provider and protector of your family as you thought.

That’s when the car starts using far more oil than it used to. The washing machine begins to make a gurgling sound and the waffle iron takes forever to heat up.

Suddenly your cat starts giving you dirty looks.

Alexander Gromack is Clarkstown Town supervisor.

Don’t lose your head even if you’ve lost your job

By Annie Rabbitt

The phrase “jobless recovery” is not an oxymoron, but as an economic condition it doesn’t exactly fill you with confidence about the future. Still, the consensus among most economists and financial forecasters has it that our recent economic downturn is set to be followed by a long road back to recovery, one notable for its persistent, but not necessarily high, rate of unemployment. Unfortunately, in economics as in wagering, safe bets tend to attract more money than long odds. This means that employers are typically, if somewhat curiously, attracted to workers who are already employed, or recently unemployed, instead of jobless for longer than several weeks, even though this employee might potentially negotiate for a lower salary or more flexible hours.

We should not underestimate the social costs involved in long-term unemployment, either: jobless people, once out of the workforce, tend to associate less and less with their employed counterparts. In part this condition results naturally – searching for a job, after all, can take hours out of the day, hours spent mostly alone in front of a computer or cold-calling by telephone – but this condition gets reinforced through government policies that de-emphasize retraining and divorce people from interaction with their peers. It is better, then, to promote ways of finding employment that reduce the time spent searching for a job and involve more time among those already employed. Joblessness is as much about culture as it is economics.

Experts are split on the effectiveness of unemployment insurance. On the one hand, benefits paid out by the government tend to defray expenses and keep newly laid-off workers solvent, i.e., making their mortgage payments and staying current with auto insurance and other monthly costs. However, extended benefits also prolong the amount of time a person remains unemployed, according to some libertarian economists, so it’s counterproductive to increase the number of weeks benefits are available and lower eligibility standards. For most Americans, however, unemployment insurance only covers around 35 percent of lost wages, so the incentive to treat the program like a middle-class entitlement tends to decrease the higher your income bracket. Filing online can reduce wait times. Go to the state Labor Department’s Web site to learn more.

Next, retrain and re-brand. Many job sectors shed employees just as others quickly snatch up new workers. This has been true of Rust Belt cities, where new businesses like information technology and health care have hired workers recently unemployed due to outsourcing or international competition. Consider going back to school; community colleges in your area typically work in coordination with employers to develop their continuing-education courses. They understand what kind of businesses are looking for which workers. Don’t ignore this valuable resource. Also, if you are 55 and older AARP has many job programs for the unemployed, provided you meet certain income requirements.

Re-brand yourself to prospective employers by filling gaps in your resume. Entrepreneurs can start consultancies out of their homes or freelance for larger firms as a way to make money with little marginal cost. In addition, volunteering not only improves your community but helps your chances at transitioning to a full-time career. Consider volunteering with groups whose work mirrors the kind of job you’re seeking. Do you want to start over with a position in business management? Try volunteering as the treasurer or fund-raiser for a civic organization in your area. Volunteerism not only gets you out of the house and interacting with others, it also can look good on a resume.

New York State’s unemployment actually dropped by one tenth of 1 percent in July, to 8.6 percent. This is mostly attributable to seasonality and a federal stimulus bill which emphasizes infrastructure projects: clear summer weather and longer days make construction work more practical and therefore more attractive to employers. But the Hudson Valley is still hurting; our jobless rate is over 2 percentage points higher than it was at this time last year. That’s almost 18,000 jobs in the private sector alone, the largest drop year to year since 1991. Without a significant change in the housing and credit markets, unemployment in the Empire State may continue to be an issue for several more years. Fortunately, workers can take proactive steps to improve their chances of landing new employment. Don’t let the “jobless recovery” put you in a personal slump.

Anniee Rabbit is a state assemblywoman, R, C, I, from Greenwood Lake

Disastrous state budget to pile on more taxes, fees

By Thomas Morahan

I am sorry to report to you that Drivers Licenses & Registrations will be increasing 25% on September 1^st.

Every New Yorker who drives a car, truck, motorcycle, ATV, or boat will be paying more as the latest round of massive tax and fee hikes approved as part of the state budget takes effect on September 1. Most vehicle-related fees will go up 25 percent for virtually every type of vehicle New Yorkers use every day.

These fee hikes are just one reason why this was a terrible budget and why I voted against it. People are getting hit every step of the way—license fees, registration fees, insurance fees, and even new license plate fees.

People ask me ‘when is it going to stop?’ I wish they could ask the Democratic Senate Majority, because this budget was approved only thanks to their ‘yes’ votes. They are single-handedly responsible for allowing these fee hikes to take place. Their actions raise the cost of living and doing business in the Hudson Valley.

On September 1, 2009, the following motor vehicle registration fees will be increased:

·         Passenger vehicle registration fees increase from $44 to $55 (two year average depending on vehicle)
·         Commercial vehicle registration fees increase from $1.21 (per 500 lbs of vehicle weight) up to $1.51 at the low end of the range and increase from $11.50 to $14.38 (per 500 lbs) at the high end
·         Trailer registration fees will increase from an average of $34 to $42.50
·         Taxi registration fees, on average, will increase from $48 to $60
·         Average bus registration fees will increase from $73 to $91.25
·         Motorcycle registration increases from $14 to $17.50
·         All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) registration increase from $10 to $12.50
·         Average motorboat registrations will rise from $40 to $50

In addition, fees will be increased to re-register vehicles, register custom vehicles, and make photocopies of motor vehicle documents. Also, starting on April 1, 2010, New Yorkers obtaining or renewing their vehicle registration will be required to purchase brand new license plates, whether they need them or not, for $25 - a $10 increase.

I voted against the state budget and proposed an alternative plan that would have avoided the tax and fees increases. I also proposed amendments to the budget to eliminate the tax and fee hikes and restore the STAR property tax rebate checks that were eliminated in the budget. The budget amendments were opposed by Senate Democrats.

These new motor vehicle increases will cost the average Rockland and Orange County family more than $100. In addition, drivers have to pay higher Thruway tolls. Overall, the tax and fee hikes in the budget will cost the average New York family $2,400 more per year.

Two Out Of Three

By Alexander J. Gromack

Sometimes, I think we expect far too much from ourselves and others.

I’m not suggesting that we suddenly accept mediocrity as the ‘best we can do’ but I am suggesting that maybe, just maybe, we need to tweak our standards.

When you think of just how far we’ve come in such a comparatively short time, you’ve got to admit that we aren’t slouches in the achievement game.

It wasn’t too long ago that our ancestors discovered that a medium rare steak cooked over an open fire tasted a whole lot better than raw mastodon meat. Then there was that whole stone tool thing, then the planting and harvesting thing and finally the internal combustion engine thing.

Now certainly none of these things happened overnight but like I said, when you compare how long it took us to get to where we are today to the length of time it took the Grand Canyon to get to where it is today, we’re way ahead of the curve.

We’ve walked on the moon; split the atom; perfected (almost) the transplanting of human organs; charted our DNA; developed machines that can think faster than we can and some of our star pupils have found ways to defraud thousands of innocent investors right under the noses of the Security Exchange Commission.

Not bad, huh?

So you might be asking yourself, “What’s this guy’s beef”.

I’m giving full credit where credit is due but I think that some of these accomplishments have created an almost unrealistic set of expectations that just leads to frustration and anger.

Just listen to people when they complain about all the things we don’t seem to be able to do. Why are there still diseases we can’t cure? Why are people killing each other? Why are some children without food, clothes and health care? Why are there always unpopped kernels in the pop corn?

When we focus on all the things we’ve failed to do we get down on ourselves. A negative attitude never helps.

We need to balance the negatives with the positives; remember what we have done and what we have accomplished. We should give ourselves another chance when we blow it. We shouldn’t expect perfection every time.

After all, we’re only human.

Maybe when Adam and Eve fell from grace and were expelled from the garden, maybe they should have tried to convince the Gardener to give them one more chance.

How about two out of three falls?

Gromack is Clarkstown town supervisor.

Town of Ramapo K-9 Pool Party set for Sept. 13

By Christopher St.Lawrence

The 6^th Annual Town of Ramapo K-9 Pool Party will take place (rain or shine) on Sunday, September 13^th from Noon until 3:30 PM, at the Spook Rock Pool, located on Spook Rock Road in Suffern, New York. Since the launch of this popular family event, over 1000 dogs of all breeds have participated.

The benefits of swimming and moving in water for dogs has been well documented. Because of the increased resistance to movement, a five minute swim is equivalent to a five mile run. The buoyancy of water lessens stress on joints, encourages freer movement and provides a safe environment for exercise. As well as being incredibly fun for canines, swimming has positive effects on: strength, stamina, range of motion and flexibility, cardiovascular fitness, core stability and strength.

When I first proposed this special event several years ago, I never imagined that it would attract worldwide attention with participants coming from throughout Rockland County and the entire metropolitan area. Several years ago, one of our enthusiastic canines came from the State of Alaska!

Ramapo residents and their dogs are asked to donate $5 for admission, non-residents $10. Free raffles for some fun prizes will be awarded. Canines are required to have proof of vaccination; humans are required to have a good time. Local Ramapo Veterinarian, Dr. Lawrence Ness will be on site donating his services. Representatives of the Hudson Valley Humane Society have assisted the Town in coordinating this event. In addition, volunteers from the Hi-Tor Animal Care Center and Doggone Safe Program will also be on hand to supervise the festivities.

The Town of Ramapo was one of the first communities in the Country to host a dog swim, and I don’t know who has more fun the humans or the dogs! Come and join us for a fun afternoon on Sunday, September 13^th. For further information call 357-6100.

St.Lawrence is supervisor of the Town of Ramapo.

I have been the only local government official to be formally involved in the Orange & Rockland Gas Delivery Rate Case, currently before the New York State Public Service Commission. In November 2008, O&R asked the Public Service Commission to approve an additional $17.8 million in revenues to be collected annually from customers through rates they pay for gas delivery service.

In June a historic Public Service Commission Hearing took place at Ramapo Town Hall. Residents from throughout Rockland, Orange and Dutchess Counties were able to comment on the proposed rate increase via live testimony, e-mail and over the telephone speaking directly to the Administrative Law Judge. The Hearing was cablecast live by Cablevision, Verizon and web-streamed over the internet.

In the interim, a joint proposal was negotiated between the Public Service Commission staff, company officials and various other intervenors. On July 28^th, I testified in opposition to this proposal before the Public Service Commission. The following is an excerpt from my testimony: “I urge the Commission to strongly consider the economic tide in the nation and in our state in evaluating O&R’s proposal for a significant gas increase. Now is not the time to impose this increase on our beleaguered ratepayers. The time has come and someone must stand up for the ratepayers. Who is protecting their pension plans and family jobs? Who will pay for their health insurance when they can no longer afford to pay because of ever increasing utility bills? The ratepayers can no longer be used as ATM machines by the Utilities. On behalf of the ratepayers, I am opposed to any utility rate increase in this time of severe economic duress.

The Commission will meet in October to make a determination on this matter. I will keep you posted on this important matter.

I want to make you aware of two new laws that were recently signed that will help make health insurance more accessible for New York residents. I supported and voted for both of these measures during this year’s Senate session to help make health insurance more affordable for both families and young adults as our state recovers from the current economic crisis.

The first reform to the health care system in the state extends the period of time for employees who lose their jobs to utilize COBRA (the federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) to maintain their health insurance from 18 to 36 months.

COBRA, which is a safety net program that provides the recently unemployed the ability to continue purchasing group health insurance provided by their former employers’ group health plans for themselves and their families after they leave the company or business, allows them to maintain health insurance at a lower cost than if they had to buy it independently on the open market. The Federal COBRA generally applies to employers with 20 or more employees, while the State’s “mini-COBRA” law requires that smaller employers – those who have fewer than 20 employees – offer the same continuation coverage.

By extending the time period for New Yorkers to access this program, this new law will make sure that those who lose their jobs during these tough economic times are protected. People all across our state – through no fault of their own – are losing their jobs and it is important that New York State is there to help them get through these tough times. The COBRA program has been extremely helpful to many families by providing them with some peace of mind at one of their lowest points and extending people’s access to this safeguard is extremely important right now.

The second health care measure signed into law requires insurers to allow unmarried children through age 29 – regardless of financial dependence – to be covered under a parent’s group health insurance policy. This change is designed to make sure that health insurance is accessible to young adults. This will be especially helpful since those aged 19 to 29 make up 31 percent of uninsured New Yorkers.

This lack of insurance is partially due to the fact that many of these young adults are employed in entry-level jobs that fail to provide employer-based health insurance while at the same time they are losing their eligibility for coverage under their parents’ policies. Since that forces them to find individual health insurance policies, which are significantly more expensive than group policies, it is nearly impossible for them to get insurance.

Under the new law, the premiums for these young adults will be the responsibility of the families and not the employers. But the coverage would save them money overall because coverage under group policies is far more affordable than individual policies.

To further the reach of this change, the law requires insurers to offer employers an option to purchase coverage that includes young adults as dependents in family policies through age 29. According to the language of the new law, this change would take effect on September 1 and would apply to all contracts issues, renewed, modified, altered or amended after that date.

I don’t know if you’ve seen those ‘smarter planet’ commercials on TV lately.

They usually tout all the so-called technical advances that will be coming down the pike in the next ten years or so. Computer technology and the almost instantaneous sharing of ideas and information will make everything so much better, right here on earth that we would probably just get in the way.

That could be a little scary to some but I take comfort in knowing that predictions like those have been made in the past and here we are still using fossil fueled internal combustion engines, throwing our garbage in big piles wherever we can find enough vacant land and breathing in enough pollutants to choke a horse.

Of course there is one prediction that, as far as I am concerned is a little bit behind the times. It’s the one about health care.

According to the futurists, the office visit to our family MD will be obsolete. Physical exams, diagnosis and treatment will all be virtualized by computers. This will save hundreds of millions of dollars a year and make all of us healthy, wealthy and wise.

Well, I guess those making that prediction haven’t been paying much attention to the boob tube lately.

Just watch what happens when a celebrity dies, gets seriously ill or does something really outrageous in public that is ‘out of character’ and ends up on the front page of every newspaper and is the headline story for every major media outlet for days.

The newscasters always manage to find one or two medical specialists, psychiatrists or other licensed health professionals that are more than willing to be interviewed and feel perfectly capable to give all of us both a diagnosis and a prognosis for the celebrity.

Typically these so called professionals never treated, examined or have even seen the celebrity in person. In fact had the celebrity been their patient, they would be unable to divulge any information due to confidentiality laws.

Frankly, I find it a little annoying that when I don’t feel well, I still have to go to my Doctor’s office, sit in that waiting room, then wait in the exam room before I get any idea of what I may have and then what I need to do to get better.

In recent months, over 13,000 residents in New York’s 18^th Congressional district have contacted my office, participated in telephone town halls, or shared thoughts via my website regarding health care reform. I hope that through continued public dialogue on this incredibly sensitive issue in the coming weeks, all Americans will gain confidence that reform will improve the health, well-being, and financial security of families, businesses, and our economy.

Supporters and opponents of the House proposal are united in one notable way – concern about the serious impact of Congress’ action on cost, quality, and choice in our health care system.

Consider for a moment the price we are already paying for health care that is failing millions of Americans.

· Personal premiums doubled since 2000, consuming 17% of median family incomes.

· Care for 47 million uninsured greatly increases costs for taxpayers and the insured.

· a family health insurance plan will cost an estimated $24,000 per year, nearly half of household income;

· The number of uninsured will swell to 66 million, 11 million of whom will lose employer-sponsored health care; and

· Insurance companies will continue to deny coverage or charge higher premiums for those who need catastrophic care, have pre-existing conditions or are simply more likely to need health care based on gender or age.

The centerpiece of the House health reform proposal is an insurance Exchange in which uninsured individuals -- and ultimately businesses – could purchase insurance from private insurers or a public plan. These plans are designed to provide competitive rates, benefits similar to those of Members of Congress and federal employees, and protections from denials of coverage or care when patients need it most. Low-income individuals and small businesses would receive tax credits or subsidies to buy into the Exchange.

In Westchester and Rockland Counties, 22,100 small businesses could receive tax credits to provide coverage to their employees; 8,800 seniors would avoid high out-of-pocket drug costs in the Medicare Part D ‘donut hole;’ 460 families could escape health care-related bankruptcies; 53,000 uninsured individuals would gain access to care; and health care providers would be paid fairly for the services they deliver.

Unfortunately these and other benefits in this bill have been overshadowed by escalating rhetoric in this debate, particularly regarding misconceptions about the proposal.

· For example, employers and those with insurance will not be forced to change plans but could find better, more affordable plans over time through the Exchange.

· Medicare benefits would remain unchanged, except for elimination of the Medicare Part D ‘donut hole.’

· Older Americans will not be required to receive counseling about end-of-life care, but Medicare would cover the service for the first time.

· Reform would actually stop “rationing” by insurance companies, giving patients and doctors control of the care patients receive and protecting patients from denials for coverage.

· Finally, the government would not “socialize” medicine. In fact, private insurance would be offered through the Exchange to give consumers more affordable choices that include coverage standards to protect patients.

An open and respectful dialogue is essential for Americans to learn about health care proposals and for my office to address your concerns. Until Congress votes in September, I will continue this discussion through meetings with constituents; roundtables with various groups like seniors, doctors, businesses, and disability advocates; telephone town halls; and updated information and polls on my website so that you can voice your opinion and get the facts on reform.

The status quo is simply unacceptable for our economy and for the financial security of families and businesses held hostage by insurance companies. I look forward to working constructively with residents of the 18^th district and my colleagues in Congress to pass reform that contains costs, preserves choices, and improves health care for every American.

Assemblywoman Nancy Calhoun, R,C – Blooming Grove, said she is fighting against the planned closing of the State Police Mid-Hudson Crime Laboratory located at Stewart International Airport.

“I am thoroughly outraged that in an effort to save money, the state would close a crime lab which is necessary for local police departments to quickly and correctly identify criminals and prosecute those who commit crimes in our community,” Calhoun said. “I am well aware that this closure will hinder both local and state police in their abilities to do their jobs and protect the people of the Mid-Hudson region.

“The state’s explanation for the reasoning behind the closure seems to contradict logic. Trying to save money because of budgetary concerns by closing the state forensic lab in this region will only increase costs at local police departments now forced to pay for the unexpected, and unbudgeted cost of transporting evidence to Albany. In the end, the only losers are the overtaxed public and the victims of crimes in our area who rely on the services provided by the lab at Stewart Airport.

“I have already been in contact with the New York State Police explaining the importance of this facility and possible remedies to this supposed problem,” she said.

U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel, and six of his colleagues, called for Energy Secretary Steven Chu to support the application of the New York Independent System Operators (NYISO) for Smart Grid Investment Grant Program (SGIGP) funding. This funding will assist components of a modernized electric transmission and distribution system delivering detailed, real-time information about energy use to customers.

“The smart grid will improve the energy efficiency in our homes, businesses, and public institutions,” Engel said. “It will provide direct benefits to energy consumers, create new jobs in New York that advance the new clean energy economy, and will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. I urge the Department of Energy to provide the necessary funding for these worthy initiatives in our great state.”

The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) operates New York's bulk electricity grid, administers the state's wholesale electricity markets, and provides comprehensive reliability planning for the state's bulk electricity system. NYISO is a not-for-profit corporation which began operating in 1999.

The Smart Grid Investment Grant Program is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The overall purpose of the Smart Grid Investment Grant Program is to accelerate the modernization of the nation’s electric transmission and distribution systems and promote investments in smart grid technologies, tools, and techniques that increase flexibility, functionality, interoperability, cyber-security, situational awareness, and operational efficiency.

A letter to Chu was also signed by Nita Lowey, Joe Crowley, John Hall, Paul Tonko, Mike McMahon and Eric Massa.

When it comes to our natural resources, New York State is a land of abundance. For example, our waterways include 70,000 miles of rivers and streams, 4,000 lakes and ponds, and 2.4 million acres of wetlands. The Department of Environmental Conservation’s Division of Water is responsible for protecting water quality in lakes, rivers, and aquifers by regulating wastewater discharge, controlling surface runoff, and monitoring water quality. This is quite a large job, since the Empire State’s residents use approximately 210 billion gallons of water every year; a quarter of these inhabitants rely on groundwater as their primary source of potable water. In order to meet this need, there are 18 primary water-supply aquifers around the state. Because of the considerable pressure on our water resources, New York needs smart policies to regulate and manage its lakes, rivers, and streams. Consider that 90 percent of New York’s population, as well as accompanying economic activities, are concentrated in communities along its waterfronts.

Here in the mid-Hudson Valley, Greenwood Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Orange County, is not only a natural resource but a driver of economic development as well. With its fishing, boating, and swimming opportunities, Greenwood Lake generates revenue and improves the quality of life for communities surrounding this vital resource. During the last session of the New York Assembly I sponsored a measure that would add to the longevity of Greenwood Lake by creating a conservation fund. The Greenwood Lake Protection Fund, which passed the state Legislature and has been delivered to the governor, is revenue-neutral, does not add to the state’s deficit, and operates through user fees attached to the lake’s docks and boats. As a member of both the Assembly’s Environmental Conservation and Tourism, Parks, Arts, and Sports committees, I understand that proper management of our state’s resources must balance both conservation and development. The towns and villages close to large watersheds such as Greenwood Lake should know their options in making the most of waterfront assets. Fortunately, the New York Department of State offers a mechanism by which communities can turn resource visions into action.

The Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) is both a plan and a program. An LWRP begins as a planning document, but its importance lies in the implementation phase: the organizational structure, local laws, projects, and on-going partnerships that form a cohesive whole. The state’s Environmental Protection Fund provides the financial resources for all LWRPs. A successful LWRP means municipalities have a clear direction to take in caring for their water resources as well as a measure of consistency and coherence regarding the roles shared by local, state, and federal governments. What’s more, the financial assistance available to communities following receipt and approval of an LWRP by New York secretary of state and its successful implementation means an increase in the chances that these towns, villages or cities will receive public and private funding for economic development and conservation projects.

As a planning document, a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program is locally prepared in partnership with the Division of Coastal Resources to reflect local conditions and circumstances. It may be comprehensive and address every issue affecting a particular waterfront and its surrounding community or focus on a single problem in a community’s resource management. Some areas to consider including during the planning stage are waterfront redevelopment and land use, flooding and erosion, water quality, public access and recreation, fish and wildlife habitats, and scenic resources. Next comes the implementation phase. According to www.nyswaterfronts.com, an LWRP follows a step-by-step process for converting a community’s vision into an actionable blueprint. The steps are appropriate for both large and small communities, for comprehensive plans or narrowly focused ones, and include gaining community involvement; developing a vision; identifying and analyzing the key issues and opportunities; developing partnerships with all who can help; refining the vision into a plan of action; organizing to implement the plan; adopting necessary laws and practices; undertaking project planning and feasibility; obtaining financing and finding markets; constructing projects; and, ongoing management of waterfront decision-making.

With hope, at the end of the planning and implementation processes, a community should have both the vision and means to transform its lake, river or coastal waterfront into a tourist destination or untrammeled quiet space. Whatever the plan for your waterway, a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program can guide policy makers and residents alike in getting the most out of one of the state’s most important natural resources.

NEW CITY – Rockland County Legislator Alden H. Wolfe has introduced a local law that would increase the redemption period for tax delinquent residential properties.

The measure would extend the redemption period from two years to three years to afford homeowners a longer period of time in which to bring delinquent tax payments up to date. The resolution was introduced at the Aug. 12 meeting of the Legislature’s Government Operations Committee and passed unanimously.

Wolfe, deputy majority leader and chairman of the committee, said, “We all recognize that this is a time of economic hardship, and that many of our county’s homeowners face seemingly insurmountable obstacles. This extension would allow tax delinquent homeowners more time in which to develop strategies for financial recovery.”

Homeowners would be still responsible for interest and penalties that accrue during the extended period.

Wolfe added, “Foreclosures hurt our neighborhoods and can have tremendous impacts on the business, social and educational aspects of our communities. We are all in this together, and I believe that this is a reasonable and responsible means to address a serious economic problem. Any relief government can provide to Rockland homeowners must be considered.”

The resolution will be forwarded to the Legislature’s Budget and Finance Committee for consideration and if approved, will then be sent to the full Legislature, where a date will be set for a public hearing.

I am very unhappy to report that Governor Paterson has secret plans to spend $140 million of federal stimulus money to give $200 per child “back to school” grants to welfare and food stamp recipients. The new welfare give-away reportedly was detailed in a secret memo from the Office of Temporary Disability Assistance.

The grants would be given out regardless of whether a welfare recipient complied with work and other requirements; regardless of whether a child was enrolled in school, attending school or even dropped out.The grants would be available at ATMs – with no requirements, no accountability, and no legislative oversight.

Governor Paterson is ready to give out $140 million in free money to welfare and food stamp recipients -- with no accountability and no restrictions on what it could be used for.This spending does nothing to create jobs and doesn’t even need to be used to back to school supplies.

This is a totally irresponsible use of federal stimulus money. He should be using these funds to roll back some of the $8.5 billion in tax hikes he put in the budget; or use to help restore property tax rebates that he and Senate Democrats eliminated.The new program is in addition to a 10 percent increase in the basic welfare grant that was part of the new state budget, which took effect last month. Welfare grants will increase by a total of 30 percent by July 2011.

The Governor wanted to keep his new giveaway plan a secret to avoid any transparency so taxpayers wouldn’t know about it until it was too late. This is free money available at ATMs – it is a plan that is ripe for fraud and abuse and could be continued to years, saddling taxpayers with another questionable public assistance program at a time when we are already facing a $2.1 billion budget deficit caused by the Democrats’ big spending budget.

We enacted new laws a decade ago to ensure accountability in our social services programs through workfare and learnfare – to encourage personal and parental responsibility and cut back fraud and abuse. After those changes, welfare rolls decreased, as did child poverty.

However, this plan would be a big step backwards and I urge the Governor not to go through with it.He should be using stimulus money for the intended purpose of creating jobs and reducing taxes, not giving for a secret give-away program.

Last week my “LIVE From Town Hall” TV Show featured a group of young, talented musicians who attended the Town of Ramapo’s “Jazz In The Summer” Camp at Ramapo High School directed by Mike E. Smith, assisted by Evelyn Watson. High School students from Suffern, Spring Valley and Ramapo, and a few former graduates participated in this outstanding activity, the talented musicians ranged in age from 10 to 20 years old. On behalf of the Town Board, I would like to commend the following students for their participation and excellent musical skills: Herve Alexandre, Zachary Alexandre, Jeffrey Adesanya, Shaquille Alexis, Kyla Brathwaite, Daniel Brooker, Nicholas Davis, Maija Dizon, Marilyn Dizon, Kyeem Dixon, Brian Franheim, Jonathan Gay, David Gilet, Brandon Hunt, Christy John, Robert McEnery, Carlos Noel, Darryl Oby, Jon Toscano, Keith Watford, Anthony White, Gabriel Wernick and Mike Smith, the Camp Director.

On “LIVE From Town Hall” the students demonstrated their versatility and talent playing selections from some of the greatest Jazz artists of all time including: Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Ramsey Lewis, Maynard Ferguson, Sony Rollais and Cannonball Adderly, just to name a few. Congratulations to Camp Director Mike Smith for a job well done! The East Ramapo Marching Band Camp will start in a few weeks at the Joseph T. St. Lawrence Community, Health and Sports Center. Culture and recreation are conduits to student success, the Town Board will continue to sponsor activities such as the Jazz Marching Band Camps.

August 15^th – Sloatsburg Day at the Grounds of Harmony Hall, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Music, games, refreshments, historical exhibits.

BLOOMING GROVE - Assemblywoman Nancy Calhoun (R,C – Blooming Grove) says the phones in her office are starting to ring off the hook with complaints from drivers who are now seeing the impact of the state’s MTA bailout plan through increased vehicle registration costs and higher fees for renewing licences.

“This past May, Governor Paterson, Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senator Malcolm Smith rammed through the legislature a bailout of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which they estimated would cost the taxpayer about $2 billion but will likely cost more,” Calhoun said. “Included in this bailout was a .34 percent payroll tax on hospitals, not-for profits, the self-employed and area businesses, a $25 increase in vehicle registration fees and a $25 increase in driver license fees. This bailout and the fee increases associated with it were in addition to the 25 percent increases to those same fees already contained in the fiscal year 2009-10 budget.”

“I voted against this plan because of the devastating effects I knew it would have on Orange and Rockland county residents, many of whom do not even use the MTA,” Calhoun said. “Unfortunately, this plan passed despite a vocal bipartisan opposition and, once again, Mid-Hudson voters are being used as an ATM for the MTA.”

Calhoun said her office has received numerous calls and e-mails from outraged motorists who feel blindsided by these fees and demand action. Calhoun has called for a forensic audit of the MTA’s books.

NEW CITY – Rick Feldman’s campaign for Clarkstown Receiver of Taxes has a campaign kick off fundraiser on Tuesday, August 18 at the Clarksville Inn in West Nyack, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Appearing at the event will be musical recording artists, Adele LaTourette and Dan Denerstein. The public is invited. Tickets: $75 per person or $100 per couple.

Feldman says his Rockland County business background gives him a fresh approach to the political landscape in Clarkstown and the office of Receiver of Taxes.

“I believe what's most important is how far the individual at the head of the office is willing to go to serve the taxpayers of Clarkstown,” he said. “And the taxpayers of Clarkstown now have an opportunity to decide if we want a sleepy little recordkeeping office that serves as an expense, or do we want to upgrade the office at no additional cost to a more efficient, value added and proactive state, delivering a comprehensive plan for greater advocacy and support.”

· An office audit, reevaluating the present system, processes, contracts, agreements and expenditures to avoid wasteful spending

· Placing a review on the current service charges for quarterly tax payments, which can further hurt home and property owners on budgets

· Developing a clear and simplified billing statement with links to taxpayer benefits

As the campaign progresses, Feldman will continue to communicate specific goals he plans to achieve. The August 18^th event gives Rick another opportunity to deliver his message to his friends, families and neighbors throughout Clarkstown. More information can be found at www.electrickfeldman.org.

NYACK - Nyack Democrats will select from a field of four candidates when they go to the polls for the Sept. 15 primary election.

Four candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for mayor’s post filed petitions with the Rockland County Board of Elections and will face-off in at least two candidates’ forums before the primary.

A list of 119 valid signatures, or 5 percent of Nyack’s registered Democratic voters, were required for a petition to be considered valid. Village Trustee Denise Hogan filed 225 signatures, village Trustee Richard Kavesh filed 591 signatures, village Trustee Marie Lorenzini filed 231 signatures, and Marianne Olive, a local businesswoman, filed 245 signatures.

Additionally, two candidates, Jennifer Laird White and Doug Foster, submitted petitions for the Democratic nomination for Nyack village trustee. White and Foster face no opposition for the Democratic nomination.

Kavesh was endorsed by the Nyack Democratic Committee on May 26. Hogan has received the endorsement and nomination of the Independence Party and faces no primary opposition for that line. Her running mate on the Independence line will be Maureen Dougher. Dougher will oppose White and Foster in the November election.

Prior to Sept. 15 there will be a mayoral candidates’ night on Sept. 1 at the Nyack Center and an on-line candidates’ forum on Aug. 25 sponsored by Rockland World Radio.

Nyack is an overwhelmingly Democratic village, with Democrats outnumbering Republicans by about three to one. Candidates can also run on independent party lines of their designation; petitioning for these lines is now underway.

I recognize that these are tough fiscal times in our nation. However, the sad fact is that many of the nearly 14 million United States children and adolescents who suffer with mental health problems do not receive treatment. One of the many reasons for lack of treatment is access to care. As the Ranking Member of the New York State Senate Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, I am increasingly concerned about increasing problems concerning access to care including a shortage of specialists, insurance barriers and stigma. According to a recent report prepared at my request by the New York State Department of Health and Office of Mental Health “the greatest problem in children’s mental health is that most children needing help get too little, too late.”

The lack of child and adolescent psychiatrists nationally and particularly in New York is part of the problem. Some regions of New York State do not have a single Child or Adolescent Psychiatrist. One study found that nearly 60% of the youth who were referred by a primary care practitioner to a mental health specialist never received the care they were referred for. Several years ago in response to this crisis, New York State established a Telepsychiatry Program to technologically link through a video monitor child psychiatrists with children needing access to specialized mental health care where none exists. While this was a helpful first step, Telepsychiatry can only address part of the problem. More access is needed if we are going to treat the many children and adolescents in need of mental health care.

Since the passage of Timothy’s Law there have been several proposals to expand its scope. Among the proposed improvements is a bill I introduced this year to include Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) within the definition of those biologically based illnesses covered by Timothy’s Law. While PTSD is usually thought of as a condition suffered by those who have served in the military, it also afflicts many children who have suffered trauma in their lives.

As with any illness, the sooner it can be identified and treated the better the outcome. The average age of onset for mental disorders is during childhood at the age of 14. However, on average children do not enter care for nine years. Obviously, addressing mental health issues early in children and adolescent must be a priority. New York State has taken some important steps. Despite our fiscal woes, I am confident that advocates, professionals and public servants will continue to make addressing the mental health needs of children, adolescents and adults in New York State a priority.

Now don’t get me wrong. There’s nothing evil or selfish about wanting to have a few extra bucks in your pocket. It’s just that we seem to have taken this whole millionaire quest to another level.

Take a minute or two and try to remember how many quiz shows you have seen on TV that promise the contestants a chance at winning over a million dollars in cash, prizes or both.

As if that wasn’t enough, think about all the states that promise the same thing with their lotteries. It didn’t take our political leaders long to realize that this whole ‘million dollar’ thing was a gold mine, so to speak. All they had to do was identify some noble cause like education and bingo they were off and running.

Sometimes the prize money of these state sponsored lotteries climbs into the hundreds of millions of dollars and the winners take weeks before declaring themselves so they can retain the services of a good tax lawyer.

In a rare show of cooperation states have even joined together to sponsor mega lotteries raising the amount of prize money to almost obscene levels. Ticket buyers line up for miles waiting for their chance to get into the game. Vehicular and pedestrian traffic can reach almost epidemic proportions around stores that sold winning tickets in the past.

The lucky winners, after taking weeks to find a competent tax lawyer so they’re not taken to the cleaners by Uncle Sam always have the same or very similar life stories and plans for their winnings. All this ‘free publicity’ is good for the game.

Of course our state lottery is offered to the public as good clean family fun. Something you can do by yourself, or with the whole family or with your entire office.

In ancient Rome, the emperors discovered that if you gave the public enough ‘bread and circuses’ that they would usually forget what was really happening around them.

The theory was simple. Keep their stomachs full and their minds on something other than the real issues (let them see a couple of Christians being eaten by a lion or gladiators kill each other for fame).

Now I wouldn’t want anyone to think that I’m comparing our state lotteries to the Roman games.

I mean after all, the Romans had barbarians at the city’s gates threatening their civilization.

At the Town Board meeting of July 20, our independent outside auditor reported that the Town was in excellent financial condition and in an “enviable position” compared to other municipalities in the region because of our conservative budgeting practices over the last several years. Nick DeSantis of Bennett, Kielsen, Storch, DeSantis, stated that “through careful management of spending,” we had spent $816,482 less than budgeted for general fund expenses. He also reported that “the Town has well positioned itself to deal with the 2009 economic downturn” because of how we have managed and retained prior surpluses.

While the audit report was complimentary and encouraging, the Town Board and Finance Department recognizes that the 2010 budget year will be a challenging one particularly because of the expected increase in mandated State pension costs. The Town Board will shortly begin meetings with our department heads who have been informed that they will be asked to submit a budget option that holds department spending to a 0% increase in order to offset the increased costs of employee benefits and to cushion against a still uncertain economy.

In a move that will provide the residents of his district with a real say in how their tax dollars are utilized, the New York Government Reorganization and Citizen Empowerment Act” was recently signed into law. This new law, which I voted for in the New York State Senate, provides communities across the state with the power to consolidate special districts and reform local governments.

As the current fiscal climate continues to financially squeeze communities and residents across the state, this law enables citizens to cut government waste, reduce taxes, and provide vital services in a more efficient manner.

I applaud Attorney General Andrew Cuomo for coming to Rockland to announce this important law. Local communities will now have the ability to reduce government overhead and cut property taxes. I was honored that the Attorney General invited me to join him at the podium, recognizing me for “leadership on the issue” and for working with him to ensure passage of this “smart policy to improve the lives of all lower Hudson Valley families.”

Residents are constantly being asked to shoulder a greater tax burden but they lack the clear ability to decide how their hard-earned money is spent. Currently, the state’s overlapping governments force New York State residents to endure the nation’s highest local taxes and this comprehensive legislative plan will streamline the cumbersome process of consolidating these governmental entities.

In all, there are over 10,500 governmental entities imposing taxes and fees across New York State

Under the legislation the consolidation process can be started by a county, a local government or by a taxpayer petition drive. In order to streamline this process, the new law establishes a single, comprehensive procedure. Prior to this new law, this process was governed by a confusing variety of provisions.

According to the Attorney General’s office, for the resident-driven process, they must submit a petition with a specific number of signatures. The signatures of 10% or 5,000, whichever is less, of the community members are needed to place a consolidation and dissolution proposal on the ballot. For smaller entities with less than 500 members, the signatures of at least 20% of residents would be required.

The consolidation procedure in the new law applies to towns, villages and districts, including special districts and improvement districts.

Any consolidation or dissolution process would have to include the development of a plan and public hearings to maximize civic participation, as well as a referendum on the question of consolidation or dissolution in certain cases.

If a community likes the services they receive, then they have the ability to leave everything in its current form. But if the taxpayers of a community decide they want to make changes, this plan provides them with a clear mechanism to make those changes.

Cornell: State follows Rockland’s lead by banning text messaging while driving

NEW CITY –The state Senate voted overwhelmingly last week to ban text messaging while driving in New York. Gov. David Patterson is expected to sign the bill, which had already been passed by the New York State Assembly. The law, which goes into effect on Nov.1, bans motorists from using wireless handsets to compose, read, view or transmit text messages while operating a motor vehicle on any public street or public highway.

A similar law, sponsored by Rockland County Legislative Chairwoman Harriet D. Cornell, has been in effect in Rockland County since December 2008.

“We are thrilled that the State has voted to implement this overarching law which is critical to the safety of all of our citizens and we are proud that our county moved quickly to pass our own law which will continue to be in effect until the statewide law supersedes it,” said Cornell.

Cornell noted that according to studies conducted by the American Automobile Association, any activity that takes a driver’s attention off the road for more than two seconds can double a driver’s risk of crash. In addition, a 2006 joint report issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that nearly 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes observed in their study involved a driver distracted in the three seconds prior to an accident. A 2008 study conducted by the Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company found that while 18 percent of all drivers reported that they send text messages while driving, that number climbed to 39 percent among drivers between the ages of 18 and 30.

“The last thing that a young and relatively inexperienced driver needs is something that will divert his or her attention away from the road,” said Cornell, “Young drivers need to understand that texting while driving can have a catastrophic result.”

Cornell said the Rockland County Sheriff’s Department will continue partnering with the community on efforts to curb distracted driving including public education about the dangers of texting while driving.

NEW CITY - Clarkstown Supervisor Alex Gromack is requesting Rockland County and the State of New York follow the lead of the Town of Clarkstown and develop a plan of action with utility companies, including Orange and Rockland, Cablevision, and Verizon, to eliminate double, wood utility poles in the Town on County and State roads.

Gromack sent letters to Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef and Region 8 Director of the NYS Department of Transportation, Joan Dupont requesting the creation and implementation of a plan to eradicate these aesthetically unappealing and often unsafe poles.

C.J. Miller, a spokesman for Vanderhoef, said the county is supportive of Gromack’s call for removal of excess utility poles and will be participating in the effort.

The three utility companies serving Clarkstown entered into an agreement wherein Orange and Rockland Utilities agreed to install new poles. The electric company must then move their service from the old pole to the new pole and cut off the top of the old pole. Cablevision agreed to then move their service from the old pole to the new pole followed by Verizon. Verizon agreed to undertake the responsibility for removing the old pole and disposing of it appropriately.

In early 2008, the Town of Clarkstown embarked on a campaign to rid the landscape of old utility poles left in the ground next to newly-installed utility poles; after the Town found many old poles being held up by unsecured ropes, while others were left dangling or with jagged edges protruding onto sidewalks.

A town-wide survey conducted by town employees identified 520 double wood utility poles located on Town, County, and State owned roads. To date, over 200 poles on Town roads have been removed with a commitment from the utility companies to remove an additional 128 poles on Town roads by August 2009. The remaining poles are on State and County roads.

January 5, 2010

Vanderhoef set to start 5th term as county exec

NEW CITY - To mark the beginning of his fifth term as Rockland County Executive, C. Scott Vanderhoef will be sworn in at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 5, at Rockland Community College.

Vanderhoef set to start 5^th term as county exec