Blog Posts - August 2011

The Truth Shall Set Them Free - Really?

By Michael Smith, on Aug 20, 2011

Let's put the pieces together on this one.

1)    “Adolfo Carrión, the regional director of HUD for New York and New Jersey, said HUD’s major disagreements with Astorino included his reluctance to override local zoning...”  http://alturl.com/5nk7x

2)    “Nonna adds, .... Smith is wrong in his claim that the federal government will be able to override local zoning, Nonna says. The county gets to decide whether it will file any lawsuits to overturn zoning laws, and Nonna has pledged to vote against filing any lawsuits.”  http://alturl.com/zuwzx

3)    And finally from the wildly and quite frequently inappropriate (paid for by your hard-earned tax dollars) Westchester County Board of Legislators website, where the press release “Calls on the HUD Monitor to Resolve the Settlement Impasse "  (http://alturl.com/8ndvi) I could not find anywhere within the nine paragraphs any mention of the BOL’s Democratic supermajority either acknowledging their support of local zoning rules or their agreement with County Executive Astorino that he is acting appropriately in challenging the federal government in this regard. Certainly there is nothing in the way of a “pledge” to uphold Westchester zoning laws.

Is there another part of the story that I am missing or are the stories just simply not adding up?

You Can't Make This Stuff Up

By Michael Smith, on Aug 18, 2011

Watch Westchester County Legislator Mike Kaplowitz speaking “on behalf of all 12 Democratic members of the County Board of Legislators” giving business advice to Verizon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pezTBDrBd9Q

With the County Legislator's stellar business acumen being annually displayed in their running the multimillion dollar losing Playland Amusement Park, how long do you think it would take them to run a profitable business like Verizon into the ground?

Where is the YouTube video of “all 12 Democratic members of the County Board of Legislators” proclaiming that the federal government’s current demands In the Affordable Housing Settlement are outrageous? Where is the YouTube video of them stating that Westchester property zoning is not discriminatory contrary to HUD’s proclamations? Where is the YouTube video of all of them saying that they will not allow local zoning to be overridden by federal government fiat?

We're at the critical point where the voters of Westchester County must elect Legislators who will represent the taxpayer’s best interests and not the current Legislator’s future electoral aspirations.

Politicians do the political thing - Playland Children's Museum

By Michael Smith, on Aug 8, 2011

Sometimes the politicians on Westchester County Board of Legislators are called upon to make a decision that may appear to be difficult. The vote regarding the Playland Children's Museum was one of those votes. Unfortunately too often we see politicians do the political thing and not make the difficult decision.

The Board of Legislators voted unanimously to grant a $1 a year lease for 10 years to the proponents of the Children's Museum in exchange for millions of repairs to the Playland Bathhouse. On the surface, it would be easy to say that Westchester County is getting a great deal. I, for one, typically like opportunities that will grow the economic base of Westchester.

My question however is how does this project fit into the future plans of the multi-million dollar losing Playland Amusement Park. There is a study underway which intends to make recommendations as to improving the long-term financial viability of the park’s operations. I find it hard to believe that a 10 year lease for this museum at this time without a master plan in hand does not limit the County's options.

It appears that the Children's Museum group is well-financed and influential, making it difficult for politicians to say no. Remember the Nonna-Spano affordable housing settlement that was supposed to be another no lose proposition for Westchester County with the costs capped at $52 million. Staring at a $95 million bill right now,  that really hasn't quite panned out like they thought it would has it?

On this vote, I would have had to vote no, even if I was to be the only one. I am not a politician and I am going to vote what is best for the taxpayers of Westchester in the long run and not what's likely to get me reelected.

There Seems To Be A Separation From Reality

By Michael Smith, on Aug 5, 2011

"Listening to the chairman, there seems to be a complete separation from the reality of the economic issues that are going on," Smith said. "He's not hearing what's going on right now. We need to promote Westchester County as a place to do business."

http://jenkinsforwestchester.com/content/business-leaders-hear-out-westchester-lawmakers

At a March 2011 breakfast between the Westchester business community leaders and some County Board of Legislators members, Chairman Ken Jenkins spent time explaining why they were involved in the CSEA lawsuit against the County Executive. My quote from above, was captured by Gerald McKinstry in the next day’s Journal News (3/5/2011).

The business community was looking for the elected legislators to give their vision as to how they were going to promote the environment for economic growth within Westchester County. Instead they were treated to long-winded explanations and excuses, but no solutions or even ideas.

This past week, County Executive Astornio’s decision “to end a contract that was an unnecessary burden on taxpayers” generating an additional $500,000 per year in taxes to the County taxpayers, was upheld by a state Supreme Court judge.

There had to have been some members of the Democratic supermajority who thought that the Board of Legislators involvement in this legal action was inappropriate. Why didn't we hear their voices of displeasure? Where was their leadership in this issue? Where was their independence of their supermajority?

We need a change and we need it now.

It Is Time to Solve The Problems

By Michael Smith, on Aug 1, 2011

It has been interesting watching the County Board of Legislators define their roles  over the years. At one point, one of the legislators proposed that the elected legislator position be a full-time role. I'm glad that suggestion never got any traction.

It's been a long time since the Journal News covered the actions of the legislators with any regularity. When the Journal News does cover the legislators, usually it relates to the Board’s latest override of a County Executive veto or something of limited significance to the overall well-being of Westchester County such as  mid-season changes to admissions fees for Playland.

Too often I have heard the legislators say “that's not our job”. For example , what value-added action have our legislators taken regarding the Tappan Zee Bridge replacement. I am genuinely concerned about the ongoing condition of the Tappan Zee Bridge. Should the bridge become inoperable, which is not outside the range of possibilities, the economic consequences to Westchester would be severe. Are our legislator's voices loud enough to be heard in Albany and Washington DC?

This November, the taxpayers will have a choice to elect individuals who will focus on the best long-term interest of Westchester County. They should tell those who say “it's not our job”  to step aside and let those with the vision and new passion step into the role and start solving the problems before it is too late.