CURRENT ISSUES AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITY

LAKE LUCILLE - Residents are encouraged to maintain contact with the Lake Lucille Board - Mr. Barry Carl, President - whom with Ed has already met with and discussed the compelling issues you are facing. He has already commenced a series of meetings designed to address these concerns directly or to assist in any way via County intercession.

UPDATE: Ed is working with Senator Tom Morahan to secure that the promised $225,000 additional funding from the DEC will be released. That will reduce the outstanding debt of the Lake Lucille homeowner by about 50% !

Additionally, after months of frustration and stalled efforts within the legislature to identify and address the issues of external waterway influences on Lake Lucille, Ed put into place the beginnings of a working action committee of County, Town, and Lake Lucille residents, with the goal of creating a water management documentand to identify and move on waterway remediation as rapidly as possible.

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CONDOS AT HERITAGE DRIVE - There are ongoing discussions regarding the issue of drainage and flooding being conducted under the auspices of the Condo Board. Be assured that Ed has, and will continue to maintain contact and assist wherever possible. Again, Ed emphasizes that maintaining contact directly with your Board is imperative so you are kept up to date.

UPDATE: Ed has stood shoulder to shoulder with representatives of the New City Condos at various Town Board meetings affecting the Bradlees' Shopping Center proposal, nearby zoning issues, and attempting to  reconfigure the New City Post Office parking lot, which due to the original poorly planned layout cannot be reversed now. However, Ed was able to get two 2008 capital projects established for North Main Street, one which will identify locations for mid lane medians and the other to establish actual crosswalks. He is also working with Town Councilman Frank Borrelli, the County, and State Senator Morahan to look to esatblish a traffic device where the Condo's and Post Office exits meet.

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NEW HEMPSTEAD ROAD CORRIDOR - Ed has already held discussions with the County Highway Department, the lead agency for the project. The actual configuration is finally taking shape, and the matter of an access road leading out of the County Complex is being addressed to ensure that residents are not unnecessarily impacted by that road. A meeting sponsored by Ed and Legislator Gerry Bierker will be scheduled shortly, with the primary focus on input the FROM AFFECTED RESIDENTS who reside in our respective districts in this area. The notice will be sent out by the County Highway Department, and Ed has made it clear that constituents should not be inconvenienced by traveling to Pomona as previously done. He fully expects the meeting to be held nearby within this community.

IMPORTANT NOTICE - The proposed Access Road has been formally WITHDRAWN by the County Executive on October 16th, and on a motion made by Ed, the full legislature unanimously voted to WITHDRAW the project from consideration.

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FAA AIR SPACE PLAN - Ed already has spoken out and voted against what he called an "air attack on the people of Rockland." He voted against this plan, and is attending public meetings to further voice his oppositon on behalf of this community. He has challenged ALL of our congressional representatives to do something more than issue press releases, but rather vote to hold off ANY FAA funding until a plan that respects this County is submitted. The fact is that our federal officials knew of this plan over a year ago and did NOTHING until former Legislator Pat Withers happened upon  an FAA public meeting in New Jersey of all places where this plan was being presented. "The people moved to Rockland, not Cedarhurst Long Island, for a reason, one being some sense of tranquility devoid of aircraft a few thousand feet overhead", said Ed, adding that "I want our federal government officials to be pit bulls on this matter, bite and hold onto the leg of the FAA until they do the right thing."

The rallys held in Rockland are starting to get a lot of attention. Ed spoke at these events, again demanding assistance from our federally elected officials, and Congressman Engel has proposed limiting funding to the FAA until this matter is rectified.

And ... in response to a disappointing press release issued by Senator Schumer who suggested simply maintaining a 10,000 foot altitide over Rockland, but let the 600 planes a day come anyway, Ed repeated his demand that effective work, not lip service be done by our representatives in Congress.  The fact is that this "idea", if overlaid on the alleged need to bring aircraft over the area, would result in "dive bomber" approaches by commercial aircraft. Silly and not helpful.

Ed is not going to let this issue die, as he acknowledged Congressman Engel and called upon Senator Schumer to be less visible in the papers and more helpful in the Senate when he spoke to this issue again at a legislative meeting.

UPDATE: The amendment, which passed unanimously and was offered by Congressman Engel,  would require the General Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, to compare the effectiveness of the FAA's plan with other plans to relieve air travel delays. This strategy may have serious merit. In addition, the entire matter is now pending review for a hearing by the U.S. Supreme Court.

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MTA 

From his first year as your legislator, Ed has been on the forefront of the fight to get us fair value for the millions of dollars we convey for the meager services the MTA provides to Rockland. Hearings, threats, cajoling, all with to avail. The MTA  response? Marginal service at five stations AND the latest insult– A “Mobility” payroll tax on all levels of government, business, and schools. Who pays? We ALL do — through higher taxes and consumer costs stimated as an 8% increase in our cost of living here!

Ed also questioned a request to cover a cost overrun came, and he immediately saw a potential shortcoming. It appears that the County may have been less than aggressive in exactly what was expected of the vendor, Verizon. Ed questioned the scope of work, expected time line for said work, and potential redress from the vendor as opposed to going to the taxpayers pockets. 

UPDATE: County Purchasing is now routinely surveying bid processes that return only a single bid. In one incident where there was an inference that the County may be the victim of a bidding scheme, Ed was one of only three legislators who voted against the contract. 

Ed also requested a recapitulation of exactly what language and detail is contained in agreements with vendors who do business with the County.

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UPDATE: Believe it or not, it has been announced that ALL site plan approvals have been accomplished by the various Town Boards, and the developer has commenced demolition ! Ed thanks all those citizens who joined him at the numerous Town meetings that helped to get this project off the boards and continue the effort to revitalize and beautify our community.

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"WHITE GATE" PROPERTY ( West side, Route 304 opposite Davies' Farm) - Ed attended a meeting sponsored by concerned citizens @ the Town Hall Auditorium. There has been a lot of dialogue, some of it seemingly a bit confrontational, about the future of this 22 acre parcel in North New City. Residents have reported that the developer has indicated that if he does not get the development he desires, he will make application for a trailer park, car wash, and storage facility. Residents are urged to attend, and Ed will be there to ensure the residents of his District are both heard and treated fairly.

UPDATE: The development that was "threatened" fell hard at that meeting, once Ed informed the applicant that ANY proposal must also go to the County Planning Department for approval, where Ed assured him that it would be reviewed appropriately by both Planning and your Legislator ! Already, we are seeing more good news, as a respected local builder, CalMart Enterprises, has secured 5 acres for their new offices 

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PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN -  Ed is proud of both his long involvement in teaching our children about the tools necessary to maintain their own personal safety and having been the primary sponsor of a law establishing “Sex Offender Free Zones”, a statute that has provided an added edge to law enforcement’s efforts to protect our children and families. He was heartened that we also have neighboring counties emulating this law.

But we need to recognize that here is another ‘playground’ pedophiles increasingly use, and it is found wherever there is a personal computer with internet access. We must be up to the task of staying ahead of these perverts who would defile our children, and must recognize that this type of criminal is the most cunning and devious criminal known to the justice system, as they are the only criminal known to fashion their own life around potential and future victims; our children.

Our law enforcement professionals do yeoman’s work in tracking down these perverts who would defile our children, and often are up against all odds due to geography, jurisdiction, and the anonymity afforded by the Internet.

Ed proposed that the County investigate the acquisition of the cutting edge “Child Exploitation Tracking System” software, also known as CETS. It is a system just coming to the United States, and it is best described as a “predator drone”. Launched in Toronto in 2004, it connects law enforcement agencies world wide, immediately breaks down jurisdictional obstacles, and rapidly identifies and matches up the smallest bit of information to other cases being investigated. It saves time, money, and most importantly, brings a rapid, effective strategy that can identify and arrest individuals before they victimize a child.

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OLD ROUTE 304 CORRIDOR - NORTH NEW CITY - The issue of flooding, drainage, and stream remediation will continue to be a "front burner" item. Ed has, and will continue to work with both the County Drainage agency and Town DEC, and do his part in ensuring a seamless approach to projects that will have a positive impact on your quality of life. Additionally, Ed has not forgotten that the issue of the closed gas station on Christie Drive is STILL an issue. While we all realize that the matter is very dated, and maybe not much can be done, our community was affected, and Ed will endeavor to do whatever possible to right the situation.

UPDATE: Hard work has finally paid off as funding for the work in the Demarest Kill in and around Cranford Drive has been released, and increased funding has been secured from the County to Clarkstown for this project. Ed has also moved to ensure that the gas station, now in tax deliquency, gets no wiggle room during the proceedings and has been in constant contact with residents and state agencies in an effort to finally bring the matter to a close for our community. More to come on this ! 

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NEW CITY HAMLET REVITALIZATION - Ed has already conferred with a number of town officials, along with residents and business people. The bottom line is that this project needs to move forward as rapidly as possible. We all see the blight that is fast becoming the unfortunate "hallmark" of our community. This must be turned around quickly, and he will do everything in his power at the County level to support our Town Supervisor. Ed has also secured the full assurance that our County Executive, Scott Vanderhoef, who will continue to be a partner in this matter. Ed, who is also serving on a citizen sub-committee, will continue to maintain a joint, focused approach designed to get the job done.

UPDATE: Ed was able to bring $2 million of County funding to the Town project that will be used to refurbish Congers Road bewteen Main Street and Route 304. In addition, Ed sponsored successful legislation that will result in County funding for the purchase of the property directly in front of Dutch Gardens. The plan is for this entire area to be cleared and become a well appointed gateway to this historic park, opening up use by our residents and visitors. This was an effort that came out of the New City Visioning Committee on which he served, and is a testament to Town and County government working together with citizens and local business, all looking to bring a truly unique component to the revitalization of the New City Hamlet Center. A special acknowledgement to my legislative colleagues, the County Executive, and Clarkstown Town Supervisor. 

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TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE DEVELOPMENT -

As far back as 2007, Ed sponsored a hearing before our Public Safety Committee that covered issues of bridge safety, traffic management, and other community concerns. After assurances at that time that all was fine, it was announced three months that another $20 million was needed to repair approximately 2000 deteriorations, some measuring 1 by 3 feet in size, beneath the bridge structure.

Ed continues to work diligently with his colleagues in the Legislature and the County Executive in efforts to move the matter of the Tappan Zee Bridge forward. While the DOT and the NYS Thruway Authority squabble over issues such as whose offices will be housed where, there is a continuation of very expensive “finger in the dyke” work going on. It is not comforting to hear the DOT commissioner say that the bridge “is sound, but not a sound as I would like it to be”.

Issues of bridge safety and the future development of the Tappan Zee Bridge affect all of us here in this community. It is imperative that the Thruway Authority remain vigilant in it maintenance and repair schedule, and that the future of the Tappan Zee Bridge reflect the needs and desires of this community. Ed will do his utmost to ensure just that.

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SALES TAX - Ed requested that hearings be conducted to address what has become an unhealthy reliance by County government on the sales tax for revenue.

State and local government has created an alternate market for goods 10 minutes away in New Jersey. They do not make gasoline and clothing any better there, but government here has made it cheaper through regressive taxation. That drives up other costs to taxpayers due to closed businesses and less collected revenue.

The challenge will be to identify ways to moderate our reliance on a sales taxes that hurts our overall economy here, and does so  without raising our property taxes.

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SAVING YOU MONEY ...

Government must work smarter and better out of respect to those who have entrusted us with their hard earned tax dollars. Ed continues to look for imtiatiatives to "stretch our dollar" and get the job done in service to this community.

With Medicaid costing this County over $60 million per year, and with an estimate that fraud typically is 10% of that cost, Ed submitted successful legislation to get reimbursement for Medicaid fraud detection software designed to recoup some of that estimated $6 million.

He will continue to question and send back contracts that do not meet the accepted standards and practices that my business background expects. That saves money. Ed also submitted successful legislation that nowallows our County to access the federal General Services Administration (GSA) schedules, providing volume pricing for law enforcement, security, facilities, and other related equipment.

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