Happy New Year, Same As Last Year

Dear Nieces and Nephews

In the 2017 campaign season, the New York Republican State Committee paid for and served as the return address for Steve Neuhaus’s campaign mailers, including the mailers that had the questionable material on his competitor, Pat Davis.  

Apparently, the majority of those who voted in Orange County, responded positively to such campaigning. Total votes cast for the November 2017 elections in Orange County were 84032 out of

169,005 enrolled voters and 218,323 registered voters in a County of apx. 375,000 residents.) https://www.orangecountygov.com/DocumentCenter/Index/293

Not such a great turnout.

The results of the County Executive race by party line were: 

TOTAL 84032

Pat dem 27801;Pat wor786; Pat wep 667; Pat ref 314 =29568

Steve rep 34906; Steve con 6611; Steve Ind 3305=44,822

Write in36; Blank and void 8606. 8642 votes for neither candidate.

The Town of Monroe, which had a total of 11521 votes cast (compare that to the cities and the other towns in the county) approximately 19% voted for Pat Davis and 41% voted for Steve Neuhaus. Big difference! But also consider that 39% were actually blank, void or write-ins. 39% by mistake or intent, voted for neither.

The results for the County Court Judge race by party line were:

TOTAL 84032

William Deprospo rep 39246; con7480; ind 6568; ref 679

Write-in 287

Blank 29772

Bill Deprospo in a race where he was UNOPPOSED, appears to have had the largest number of write-in votes and blanks (voting no one for this position) in a county wide race! 287write-ins and

blank or non entry, 29772 for a total of 30059 votes NOT cast for Bill. And a little more than half of the registered Republicans in the county voted for this former chairman of the Republican party in OC. Ouch! that must hurt!

(Some of the interesting names for the write ins were: Carol Klein, Michael Sussman , who garnered the most, Christine Stage and Langdon Chapman.)

One of the reasons this is interesting is that Orange County voter enrollment favors the Democratic Party NOT the Republican Party. (36% to 32% respectively of total registered voters.)

Why does your Auntie bring this up? Because it shows the importance of the minor Party lines, like it or not. Because it supports the argument that we need to do what is possible to increase voter turnout, without decreasing voting integrity. Because we will continue to be subjected to 1890’s Government with our own version of Boss Tweed if we continue doing what we are doing. We must vote and do so in a thoughtful way! And we need some reform in terms of voting methodology.

If we did increase voter turnout and we did enact appropriate reforms to election law in NYS perhaps, we would not have to tolerate elected and appointed officials who make statements based on Marketing 101 instead of actual information. Perhaps we would not have to tolerate the following: 

Steve Neuhaus, Orange County Executive, SAID: (in response to the Governor’s State of the State speech) “I appreciate that Governor Cuomo has made such a commitment to Stewart Airport.” “Stewart Airport is an important economic driver for Orange County, and this funding further validates that our County is a model for attracting economic development and creating jobs. Orange County is on the map, and 2018 is set to be a terrific year with major projects such as Legoland and Amy’s Kitchen also under way.”    THR 1-4-18

No mention of the timeline, which calls for completion of the Stewart Inspection Station in 2021, a big disappointment for those who want to establish Stewart as a viable international airport, asap!

We guess he missed that part.

Maybe Steve should go into the office at least one day a week.

Also, please notice if you haven’t already, Steve never misses an opportunity to promote Legoland! Bless his little plastic brick heart! And speaking of the CE and Legoland…

Maureen Hallahan, President and CEO of the Orange County Partnership, SAID: (in response to the State Budget Office highlighting the issue of the OC Partnership operating contrary to NYS law for the past six years.)“The Partnership works with site selectors on a confidential basis to help find appropriate sites for potential development. Oftentimes, those efforts must remain confidential for economic and competitive purposes.” and “This is a primary purpose of the Partnership, and runs counter to the requirements that would be imposed if the Partnership is treated as a governmental agency.” THR 01-05-18

Gobbledegook! That, in plain English means, you just don’t want to “open the books.”

Why exactly was the OC Partnership funded by tax dollars if it was not a governmental or “quasi-governmental” agency without the disclosure required by a government agency? Why was the County Executive (and OC Legislative Chair) on the OCP Board until recently, and only when the Budget Office declared that it was a “no-no”?

AND if my dear Nieces and Nephews are under the impression that OUR tax dollars will no longer go into this operation, just think again: http://www.ocpartnership.org/investors/directory-list.aspx?sec=1018 

The OCP has "Municipal investors"! For Example, the Village of Goshen, two of the three cities in the county and more are “Municipal Investors”. Why?

 If a municipality “invests” in the OCP, does that indicate (implicit or explicit) sponsorship of OCP selected projects, such as Legoland? What happens if a project is subject to a sponsoring municipality’s approval ? Is there a conflict? And while it was the Town of Goshen Planning Board that conducted the approval process, isn't it possible for one governmental entity to influence another? (We are not saying they did, but the appearance of impropriety is there.)

 

How’s that for transparency, eh, Nieces and Nephews?    

2016: Chairman and Lego lawyer, Dominick Cordisco! Former DEC lawyer

2016: Steve Neuhaus and L. Stephen Brescia (Chair of the OC Legislature) as Board members in the OC Partnership. Please note that there is no reference  to this on the site in 2018. 

 
 And Dan, lest we forget ye! 

Yes, the Town of Wallkill is a municipal investor in the OC Partnership. 

Awesome!!!

http://www.ocpartnership.org/resources/files/newsletter/2016%20Annual%20Report.pdf 

http://www.ocpartnership.org/about/board-of-directors.aspx 

Interesting letter http://www.recordonline.com/opinion/20180105/letter-legoland-does-not-deserve-taxpayer-aid