Legislative Lingustics for November 7th 2017

Dear Nieces and Nephews:

Election Day is closer. And while there is no presidential race for your consideration, the local races are even more important now than they ever have been. November 7th! Mark your calendar.

The County races bring an opportunity to get away from the blatant propaganda and messaging offered by the current administration. The County races bring an opportunity to change from this ridiculous agenda that serves no one but those “selected elected” that have the county reins.

A common thread in the Republican incumbent races for Legislature is the co-opting of a cause (s) that have proven to resound with the voters and putting their cronyism and self serving activities “out there” as something of which to be proud.

Whether it is “experience matters” “proven experience” or “during my tenure” written on the campaign materials of many incumbents seeking county positions again, it is pure drivel.

One of the saddest candidates for Orange County Legislator is incumbent James DiSalvo, who had NOTHING of his own to list as an accomplishment. He lists things that have occurred during his time in the legislature as if he had something to do with it. And when you look at his “accomplishments and items I have supported” you see that it is more of the later. 

All in the passive tense. “Orange County tax rate is down” not “I sponsored legislation to help bring tax rate down” Why? because he did nothing. Just showing up to meetings and voting is something anyone can do. We expect more. (And during his tenure as a Village Trustee and a Town Councilman, he was similarly unremarkable.)

Paul Ruszkiewicz, John Vero, Steve Brescia are so cocksure of reelection that they have not bothered to create a campaign website (or at least an easily found one; Auntie had no interest in looking after two minutes of a search) other than their respective facebook pages. Barry Cheney has a website but when you look closely, you see it hasn’t been updated since 2013.

Auntie and the Team came across many palm cards and mailers (campaign literature) this season. Katie Bonelli, who sold out her own Town of Blooming Grove and the Town of Woodbury, (She also represents part of Woodbury) with her yea vote on the referendum vote for Monroe*, is the former OC Republican Secretary who answered and still answers to William Deprospo, former Orange County Republican Party Chairman. She is the Chair of the OC Legislature Rules Committee and as the Chair of this powerful committee, Katie has circumvented or blocked most initiatives of the Democrats in OC. Not exactly playing nice is it? But she, according to her campaign literature, “led the process of revising the Code of Ethics twice in the last four years.” Why? Didn’t get it right the first time, Katie?

But what is really irksome is the audacity of these candidates to use Valley View as a campaign issue!!!

Katie Bonelli has “supported much needed capital improvements at Valley View rehabilitation Center”

James DiSalvo wrote “Valley View is running more efficient and serving folks of Orange County”

Paul Ruszkiewicz has “The future of Valley View was uncertain..During my tenure…Valley View has turned around” on his palm card

Believing that these legislators had something to do with the “turnaround” of Valley View while still owned by the County, is like believing that Steve Neuhaus really did create jobs and turn the economy around in a single handed fashion. Just like he, as County Executive, increased the number of passengers at Stewart Airport by “attracting” Norwegian Air to Stewart. All by himself!

Better not tell Lou Heimbach. (If you do not know this former OC Executive’s role in the establishment of Norwegian Air at Stewart, just google)

To sell:
L. Stephen Brescia (R,C), Chairman of the Legislature, District 9: Town of Montgomery, Village of Maybrook, Town of Wallkill
Melissa Bonacic (R,C), Majority Leader, District 2: Village of Otisville, Greenville, Middletown, Mount Hope, Wallkill and Waywayanda
Michael Amo (I), Independence Party Leader, District 1: Village of Kiryas Joel, Monroe and Woodbury
Paul Ruszkiewicz (R,C,I), District 3: Towns of Minisink, Warwick and Wawayanda
Curlie W. Dillard (D), District 4: Town and City of Newburgh
Katie Bonelli (R,C,I), District 5: Town of Blooming Grove, Village of South Blooming Grove, Monroe and Woodbury
Barry J. Cheney (R), District 8: Towns of Tuxedo and Warwick and the Villages of Greenwood Lake, Tuxedo Park and Warwick
John S. Vero (R), District 10: Town and Village of Chester and Northern Portion of the Town of Warwick
Kevin W. Hines (R,C,I), District 12: Cornwall, Blooming Grove and New Windsor
Dennis W. Simmons (R,I,C), District 13: Deerpark, Mount Hope and Port Jervis
James DiSalvo (R,I), District 14: Town of Highlands and parts of Woodbury and Monroe
Leigh J. Benton (R,C,I), District 16: Town of Newburgh

http://www.chroniclenewspaper.com/article/20141114/NEWS01/141119954/Democrats-sink-Valley-View-sale 

Now, that is a real “turnaround”.  

*Only Monroe can vote on the creation of the Town of Palm Tree even though it will affect the other towns as well.

PS

"You're not going to like it," Brescia said. "There will probably be a lot of layoffs." But due to the early retirement buy outs, such massive lay offs did not occur. And that too, was NOT Steve’s idea, was it?

 http://www.chroniclenewspaper.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140918/NEWS01/140919941/County-proposes-new-LDC-to-sell-Valley-View