Steve drones on, fluffy not fat.

Photo Kelly Marsh for THR, Steve Neuhaus aka “Noodlehaus” giving State of the County Address 2018

Dear Nieces and Nephews

While Mr. County Executive was having fun on stage giving his state of the county address, there were some of us actively listening for content, rather than basing our thoughts on presentation. And while the reaction to the “fun” delivery of the epi-pen by drone for his discussion on the “Opiod Crisis” was favorable, Auntie and the team members there was not distracted.

Sadly, the many things discussed are not under the control of the County Executive but just more bandwagons upon which he jumped. Let’s take a look. http://www.recordonline.com/news/20180411/neuhaus-touts-school-security-ideas-in-state-of-county-address 

“Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus on Wednesday called for an armed police officer in every school in the county and a coalition of school security personnel as two ideas county officials proposed in response to the school shootings in Parkland, Fla., in February.”  

The school districts are under the control of the local school boards and the State Education Department. The County level police or Orange County Sheriffs Office is NOT a department under the CE but an independent office subject to the control of the elected Orange County Sheriff.

While he can make donations to the schools from certain line items in his budget, as he did in February, he cannot dictate what transpires.

It is nice that he supports school safety but he is limited as to what he can do, aside from making donations. And it is not clear that he is doing that currently.

Fluff!

“Neuhaus voiced support for opening an opioid treatment center in western Orange County, an idea that hit resistance recently when Port Jervis Mayor Kelly Decker opposed opening a methadone clinic in a county building in his city. Neuhaus had forecast those very plans — a collaboration with Cornerstone Family Healthcare— in his last State of the County speech.”

Again, nice thought, but what is his responsibility here? Nothing, just more talk or “fluff”.

“Neuhaus said he plans to sign an executive order requiring municipalities to refer development plans to the county Planning Department for its recommendations before the county will issue any needed permits.”

This is current, existing law in NYS. See General Municipal Law Article 12B, section 239, l,m,n. It has been the law for decades and allows County Planning departments that opportunity to give or not give their approval and to comment on  specific actions. Their decision can be overridden by local

communities with a super-majority of votes (indicating strong commitment by the local board but with comments by the County on the record.) Steve’s level of involvement here and action required is actually: NONE.

More fluff.

Maybe he does not know that it is already law.

Steve went on about the economic progress of the County and the number of hotels needed because of increased tourism *

And he did go on about more matters not under his control but we need not mention them now.

But at least the drone looked pretty and had a drone while he droned on.**

  

*Again, just because something happened when you were in office doesn’t mean you did it! In October 2017, there were over 25 babies born in Middletown , while you were in office. Were you responsible for those events as well? No, off course not! No more responsible than the items mentioned above.

**“Drone” from dictionary.com:

Verb

verb (used with object), droned, droning.

4. to say in a dull, monotonous tone.

Noun

1. the male of the honeybee and other bees, stingless and making no honey.

2. an unmanned aircraft or ship that can navigate autonomously, without human control or beyond line of sight: the GPS of a U.S. spy drone.

(loosely) any unmanned aircraft or ship that is guided remotely:

a radio-controlled drone.

3. a person who lives on the labor of others; parasitic loafer.

4. a drudge.