Not sure who is behind it but we welcome Becker Blunders to the web.
Nassau County Legislator Fran Becker flies under the radar but this site is now exposing what the Becker Family is up to.
The first post gives us an intro to what we should be expecting:
"I'm Tired of Fran Becker
I've created this page to educate the public on the ways that Francis X. Becker, Jr. is destroying the Village of Lynbrook and Nassau County. Fran has been skating on the reputation created by his grandfather and father for way too long and it's time that Lynbrook woke up and voted for a change.
In 12 years, what has Fran Becker done for us? Are our streets better? Is our Village safer? Are we proud of our downtown and commercial areas? The answer to all these questions is NO!! Well I'm tired of Becker's horrible job and think it's time for a change.
I don't care who is running against Fran, but on Election Day I'm going to vote for the other guy. It's time for a change and it's time to show the Becker family that they don't run Lynbrook. WE THE PEOPLE RUN LYNBROOK AND ITS TIME TO TAKE OUR VILLAGE BACK!!"
Check out www.beckerblunders.livejournal.com
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Friday, September 28, 2007
Venditto Gets Smacked Around in the Massapequa Post
Dear Editor,
I am extremely pleased that the Massapequa Post has printed Supervisor Venditto's response to my letter. This is clearly an indication that the Massapequa Post is a responsible, non-partisan medium with the best interests of Town of Oyster Bay residents in mind. Moreover, it illustrates the extreme importance of discourse, debate, and checks and balances; all things that have been lacking in recent years on the Town of Oyster Bay Board.
As an English teacher, I consistently stress to my students the importance of staying on topic in their writing, as it is important not to confuse the reader. My original letter was regarding the Town Board's approval of the acquisition of a large fleet of eco-unfriendly SUV's for the Public Safety Department. Based upon the scope of the duties that Public Safety Department performs, the Jeep Liberty fleet was a terrible choice for both the taxpayer, and the environment. As is frequently the case with any polished politician, Supervisor Venditto, skirted the issue and diverted attention elsewhere.
One of the most important duties of being a competent teacher is understanding the importance of creating clear and concise plans. It is crucial to identify attainable objectives in so that students are able to do something they could not do before. Planning also allows for the opportunity to predict possible problems and questions that might arise. Therefore, solutions are found before any problems arise. While planning can be a daunting task, it is absolutely necessary. Part of the planning process is research, or what I like to call, "doing your homework."
It is my contention that the current Town of Oyster Bay Board either did not do their homework, or did it incompletely, as there was an abundance of alternative "greener" vehicles that could have been acquired. Moreover, had the Town Board properly planned, they could have saved Town of Oyster Bay taxpayers tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars, while saving our precious environment.
And by the way Mr. Supervisor, while you might think your Town issued, taxpayer funded, gas-guzzling Crown Victoria is made in "America by American workers," it is actually manufactured at the St. Thomas Assembly, in Canada by Canadian workers. Therefore I implore you and the rest of the "Venditto Team" to do yourselves and the great residents of the Town of Oyster Bay a favor - before you adopt your next "expansive program" or draft another self-promoting press release, do your homework.
Keith Scalia
The writer is a candidate for Town of Oyster Bay Council and is running on the Democratic and Working Families lines.
I am extremely pleased that the Massapequa Post has printed Supervisor Venditto's response to my letter. This is clearly an indication that the Massapequa Post is a responsible, non-partisan medium with the best interests of Town of Oyster Bay residents in mind. Moreover, it illustrates the extreme importance of discourse, debate, and checks and balances; all things that have been lacking in recent years on the Town of Oyster Bay Board.
As an English teacher, I consistently stress to my students the importance of staying on topic in their writing, as it is important not to confuse the reader. My original letter was regarding the Town Board's approval of the acquisition of a large fleet of eco-unfriendly SUV's for the Public Safety Department. Based upon the scope of the duties that Public Safety Department performs, the Jeep Liberty fleet was a terrible choice for both the taxpayer, and the environment. As is frequently the case with any polished politician, Supervisor Venditto, skirted the issue and diverted attention elsewhere.
One of the most important duties of being a competent teacher is understanding the importance of creating clear and concise plans. It is crucial to identify attainable objectives in so that students are able to do something they could not do before. Planning also allows for the opportunity to predict possible problems and questions that might arise. Therefore, solutions are found before any problems arise. While planning can be a daunting task, it is absolutely necessary. Part of the planning process is research, or what I like to call, "doing your homework."
It is my contention that the current Town of Oyster Bay Board either did not do their homework, or did it incompletely, as there was an abundance of alternative "greener" vehicles that could have been acquired. Moreover, had the Town Board properly planned, they could have saved Town of Oyster Bay taxpayers tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars, while saving our precious environment.
And by the way Mr. Supervisor, while you might think your Town issued, taxpayer funded, gas-guzzling Crown Victoria is made in "America by American workers," it is actually manufactured at the St. Thomas Assembly, in Canada by Canadian workers. Therefore I implore you and the rest of the "Venditto Team" to do yourselves and the great residents of the Town of Oyster Bay a favor - before you adopt your next "expansive program" or draft another self-promoting press release, do your homework.
Keith Scalia
The writer is a candidate for Town of Oyster Bay Council and is running on the Democratic and Working Families lines.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
John Venditto: Purposely Obtuse or Just Plain Ignorant
A week or so ago we posted a letter by TOBAY Town Council candidate Keith Scalia that appeared in the Massapequa Post.
In the letter, Scalia questioned why Venditto touts his environmental record while using gas-guzzling cars. The next week Venditto responded but didn't answer any of the issues that Scalia raised.
Scalia finished his letter with this :"If Mr. Venditto is the “trailblazer” he claims to be, he will trade in his gas-guzzling Crown Victoria for a Toyota Prius; thus “preserving the quality of life” for this generation, and the generations to come."
Venditto responded with this "And, by the way, I am proud to be driving a car that is made in America by American workers."
Wow, talk about cheapoly wrapping yourself in the flag without addressingthe real point.
Venditto drives a town-provided car that is fairly bad with gas mileage.
Instead of the Crown Vic, maybe Johnny V. can get a hybrid or a car that gets better mileage.
Scalia was making a point and Venditto took the cowards way out.
There are alot of hybrid and fuel efficient cars made in the US by US workers.
Pick one.
Oh and for Vendittos information, Toyota has a fairly large presence in the US with manufacturing. They have 5 plants on line right now. Toyota directly employs around 38,000 people in the US. It has in total produced 14.8 million vehicles, 2.5 million vehicles sales (2005), 39.2 million total vehicles sales, and purchased $26.1 billion worth of "parts, materials and components" as of December 2005 in North America.
So really, Vendittos comment was just plain dumb.
In the letter, Scalia questioned why Venditto touts his environmental record while using gas-guzzling cars. The next week Venditto responded but didn't answer any of the issues that Scalia raised.
Scalia finished his letter with this :"If Mr. Venditto is the “trailblazer” he claims to be, he will trade in his gas-guzzling Crown Victoria for a Toyota Prius; thus “preserving the quality of life” for this generation, and the generations to come."
Venditto responded with this "And, by the way, I am proud to be driving a car that is made in America by American workers."
Wow, talk about cheapoly wrapping yourself in the flag without addressingthe real point.
Venditto drives a town-provided car that is fairly bad with gas mileage.
Instead of the Crown Vic, maybe Johnny V. can get a hybrid or a car that gets better mileage.
Scalia was making a point and Venditto took the cowards way out.
There are alot of hybrid and fuel efficient cars made in the US by US workers.
Pick one.
Oh and for Vendittos information, Toyota has a fairly large presence in the US with manufacturing. They have 5 plants on line right now. Toyota directly employs around 38,000 people in the US. It has in total produced 14.8 million vehicles, 2.5 million vehicles sales (2005), 39.2 million total vehicles sales, and purchased $26.1 billion worth of "parts, materials and components" as of December 2005 in North America.
So really, Vendittos comment was just plain dumb.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
A NYTimes Editorial : Is It Something in the Water?
from the NYTimes -
Is It Something in the Water?
Recent notes from Long Island’s wide, wacky world of special taxing districts, courtesy of the Nassau comptroller, Howard Weitzman:
Water commissioners in Franklin Square and Hicksville were apparently so dedicated to their duties that they met two or three times a week during the two-year period in 2004 and 2005 that Mr. Weitzman’s office audited their districts. Every time they met, each pocketed the $80 per-diem payments that the state allows commissioners of such districts to receive when doing the people’s business.
But the meetings were apparently so urgent and action-packed that the commissioners were unable to keep adequate records of how many hours they worked, or what actual district business they performed. The cost of two years’ worth of per-diems to taxpayers: $76,400 in Franklin Square and $55,120 in Hicksville.
¶The Hicksville district gave free Costco memberships to its three commissioners and their spouses. They told auditors that they used the memberships to buy bottled water.
¶The commissioners in both districts are part-timers, but received full medical, dental and vision benefits during the audit period. The Franklin Square commissioners got life insurance too. Three Hicksville commissioners went to American Water Works Association conferences in Orlando, Fla., and San Francisco, for dubious reasons and for about $20,000 in taxpayer money. They were reimbursed for meals at rates that were sometimes nearly double what the federal government allows its employees in those cities.
¶Of the 15 people on the Franklin Square district’s payroll, seven are related to one another, suggesting that blood is indeed thicker than water. (Think of it as a riddle: If a commissioner’s son is the district superintendent, the superintendent’s nephew is a water plant attendant, a commissioner’s daughter is an account clerk, and the business manager’s son is a water plant attendant, then who gets robbed? That’s right: you, the taxpayer!)
We’re no experts in fluid dynamics, but it does not take a hydrologist or even an unlicensed plumber to realize that tax money, like water, will disappear if leaks are not plugged and people are not watched every minute. On Long Island, nobody seems to have been watching, except for Mr. Weitzman, whose full audit — the latest of a series of wince-inducing reports from his office — can be obtained from the Nassau County Web site, nassaucountyny.gov.
There are a couple of chilling lessons from Mr. Weitzman’s perennially fruitful search for small-bore atrocities committed by these little-known, largely unaccountable cul-de-sacs of elective government:
First, that these petty inefficiencies, wastefulness and abuses of power add up to significant amounts on any New Yorker’s tax bill.
And second, that the Hicksville and Franklin Square Water Districts are only two of almost 7,000 town special districts across New York, in addition to 4,200 other local governments.
Mr. Weitzman deserves applause, again, for casting a withering eye on special-district shenanigans. But at some point, it’s the voters who must wake up to stop the steady drip, drip, drip of tax dollars down the drain.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Full of Schmitt
Schmitt raises some rightous indignation on News12 about the PROPOSED raises for the County Executive, Assessor, DA, and Clerk.
Schmitt practically screams at Scott Feldman "You don't try and sneak it in the middle of the night without any public scrutiny or without any public debate or public discussion. He should know better."
What the hell is Schmitt talking about????
Seriously.
Nothing is being "snuck in" because Schmitt as a legislator has to READ the budget proposal and then VOTE yes or no.
Schmitt is just plain LYING when he says there won't be "public debate or public discussion."
That is what the LEGISLATURE will be doing before they vote in the budget proposal.
I'm going to try to help Schmitt here...
Step 1. Suozzi sends budget proposal to the Legislature.
Step 2. The Legislature (which includes Schmitt) will read the budget.
Step 3. The Legislature (again which includes Schmitt) will have a public hearing on the budget.
Step 4. The Legislature (still including Schmitt) will VOTE on the budget.
No where in there is Suozzi sneaking in raises "in the middle of the night" or "without any public scrutiny or without any public debate or public discussion."
It is up to the LEGISLATURE to approve or deny the raises.
That is how it works.
To use Schmitts own words, Schmitt "should know better."
Schmitt is hoping that he can fool Nassau residents into thinking that the raises are a done deal and no one can object to them.
Why does Schmitt think Nassau residents are stupid?
Here is the video of a red-faced Schmitt doing a great job of looking like a bufoon.
Schmitt practically screams at Scott Feldman "You don't try and sneak it in the middle of the night without any public scrutiny or without any public debate or public discussion. He should know better."
What the hell is Schmitt talking about????
Seriously.
Nothing is being "snuck in" because Schmitt as a legislator has to READ the budget proposal and then VOTE yes or no.
Schmitt is just plain LYING when he says there won't be "public debate or public discussion."
That is what the LEGISLATURE will be doing before they vote in the budget proposal.
I'm going to try to help Schmitt here...
Step 1. Suozzi sends budget proposal to the Legislature.
Step 2. The Legislature (which includes Schmitt) will read the budget.
Step 3. The Legislature (again which includes Schmitt) will have a public hearing on the budget.
Step 4. The Legislature (still including Schmitt) will VOTE on the budget.
No where in there is Suozzi sneaking in raises "in the middle of the night" or "without any public scrutiny or without any public debate or public discussion."
It is up to the LEGISLATURE to approve or deny the raises.
That is how it works.
To use Schmitts own words, Schmitt "should know better."
Schmitt is hoping that he can fool Nassau residents into thinking that the raises are a done deal and no one can object to them.
Why does Schmitt think Nassau residents are stupid?
Here is the video of a red-faced Schmitt doing a great job of looking like a bufoon.
Full of Schmitt
Schmitt raises some rightous indignation on News12 about the PROPOSED raises for the County Executive, Assessor, DA, and Clerk.
Schmitt practically screams at Scott Feldman "You don't try and sneak it in the middle of the night without any public scrutiny or without any public debate or public discussion. He should know better."
What the hell is Schmitt talking about????
Seriously.
Nothing is being "snuck in" because Schmitt as a legislator has to READ the budget proposal and then VOTE yes or no.
Schmitt is just plain LYING when he says there won't be "public debate or public discussion."
That is what the LEGISLATURE will be doing before they vote in the budget proposal.
I'm going to try to help Schmitt here...
Step 1. Suozzi sends budget proposal to the Legislature.
Step 2. The Legislature (which includes Schmitt) will read the budget.
Step 3. The Legislature (again which includes Schmitt) will have a public hearing on the budget.
Step 4. The Legislature (still including Schmitt) will VOTE on the budget.
No where in there is Suozzi sneaking in raises "in the middle of the night" or "without any public scrutiny or without any public debate or public discussion."
It is up to the LEGISLATURE to approve or deny the raises.
That is how it works.
To use Schmitts own words, Schmitt "should know better."
Schmitt is hoping that he can fool Nassau residents into thinking that the raises are a done deal and no one can object to them.
Why does Schmitt think Nassau residents are stupid?
Here is the video of a red-faced Schmitt doing a great job of looking like a bufoon.
Schmitt practically screams at Scott Feldman "You don't try and sneak it in the middle of the night without any public scrutiny or without any public debate or public discussion. He should know better."
What the hell is Schmitt talking about????
Seriously.
Nothing is being "snuck in" because Schmitt as a legislator has to READ the budget proposal and then VOTE yes or no.
Schmitt is just plain LYING when he says there won't be "public debate or public discussion."
That is what the LEGISLATURE will be doing before they vote in the budget proposal.
I'm going to try to help Schmitt here...
Step 1. Suozzi sends budget proposal to the Legislature.
Step 2. The Legislature (which includes Schmitt) will read the budget.
Step 3. The Legislature (again which includes Schmitt) will have a public hearing on the budget.
Step 4. The Legislature (still including Schmitt) will VOTE on the budget.
No where in there is Suozzi sneaking in raises "in the middle of the night" or "without any public scrutiny or without any public debate or public discussion."
It is up to the LEGISLATURE to approve or deny the raises.
That is how it works.
To use Schmitts own words, Schmitt "should know better."
Schmitt is hoping that he can fool Nassau residents into thinking that the raises are a done deal and no one can object to them.
Why does Schmitt think Nassau residents are stupid?
Here is the video of a red-faced Schmitt doing a great job of looking like a bufoon.
Rose Walker Compares Constituents to Nursery School Students
This is unbelievable. In an interview with Massapequanews.com, TOBAY Councilwoman Rose Walker says that her years as a nursery school teacher comes in handy dealing with residents of the Town of Oyster Bay.
Can she be any more insulting?
Can she be any more insulting?
Vendittos Shame
You have to wonder if Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Venditto cares much about anything beyond getting re-elected. We know that he makes his decisions based upon whichever way the winds are blowing on the issue. We also know that he does sneaky things that he hopes the voters don't hear about.
But what about his own backyard?
What about N. Massapequa where he lives?
There are many great business lining N. Broadway/Broadway but there are many shuttered store-fronts too.
Is this what Re-Electing Venditto will get you?
The above lot has been empty for many years now and spans an entire block.
Is it fitting that Venditto would have a sign up on an empty, over-grown, dilapidated property only minutes from his camapign office and his own home?
How about this store-front?
This is just one storfront away from Vendittos campaign office:
The Venditto campaign is lucky that there are convienient closed businesses though. The Venditto campaign is storing its signs just down the road at this closed bar:
Two years ago, Venditto had his campaign office on N. Broadway too. It took the place of a closed store. Months after the campaign was over and after the office was closed, the store-front got a new tenant. That store is now closed too.
Vendittos new campaign office used to have a sign out front that said "North Massapequa Republican Club." That was there for the beginning of the year but the place never seemed to have anyone going in or out. A sign on the window informed people that the Club held its meetings down the road at another location.
Was the N. Massapequa Republican Club paying for an unused office for Venditto so he could move his campaign there?
Will the republican club remain there after November or will they and Venditto just be transient tenants in N. Massapequa?
These closed storefronts and many more like them, some spanning 1/4 of a block are within walking distance of Vendittos house.
There is no plan in the Town of Oyster Bay to help bring new businesses and retain old ones.
But what about his own backyard?
What about N. Massapequa where he lives?
There are many great business lining N. Broadway/Broadway but there are many shuttered store-fronts too.
Is this what Re-Electing Venditto will get you?
The above lot has been empty for many years now and spans an entire block.
Is it fitting that Venditto would have a sign up on an empty, over-grown, dilapidated property only minutes from his camapign office and his own home?
How about this store-front?
This is just one storfront away from Vendittos campaign office:
The Venditto campaign is lucky that there are convienient closed businesses though. The Venditto campaign is storing its signs just down the road at this closed bar:
Two years ago, Venditto had his campaign office on N. Broadway too. It took the place of a closed store. Months after the campaign was over and after the office was closed, the store-front got a new tenant. That store is now closed too.
Vendittos new campaign office used to have a sign out front that said "North Massapequa Republican Club." That was there for the beginning of the year but the place never seemed to have anyone going in or out. A sign on the window informed people that the Club held its meetings down the road at another location.
Was the N. Massapequa Republican Club paying for an unused office for Venditto so he could move his campaign there?
Will the republican club remain there after November or will they and Venditto just be transient tenants in N. Massapequa?
These closed storefronts and many more like them, some spanning 1/4 of a block are within walking distance of Vendittos house.
There is no plan in the Town of Oyster Bay to help bring new businesses and retain old ones.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
International Talk Like a Pirate Day Post
In honor of International Talk Like a Pirate Day, here is yesterday's post in Pirate Talk:
Look, I be knowin' that tharrrsometimes dismal exist'nce can be busy, and a bottle of rum! Heck, I have 3 minnows b'low4, and a bottle of rum!
But if all ye do be be a parrrt-time Legislatorrr and not have any otherrr job, ye can at least rrread th' budget prrroposal given t' ye, and a bottle of rum!
In a tale in Newsday, it be rrreveal'd that tharrrin th' budget prrroposal ferrr next yearrr therrre be salarrry incrrreases frrrom yon th' County Executive t' th' County Clerrrk, and a bottle of rum!
The budget prrroposal be a public document, and a bottle of rum!
Schmitt as Minorrrity Leaderrr werrre bein' given a copy, and a bottle of rum!
This be what in th' name o' Davy Jones he said t' Newsday about th' rrraises "Minorrrity Leaderrr Peterrr Schmitt said he werrre bein' "disappointed" that tharrrSuozzi did not be tellin' th' legislaturrre about th' rrraises, which brrrackish werrre in th' salarrry lines o' ev'rrry elect'd official in a "telephone-size" supporrrtin' budget log, and a bottle of rum! "I have always been supporrrtive o' th' notion o' salarrry incrrreases," Schmitt said, and a bottle of rum! "I thin kie e'errryone be underrrpaid rrrelatively speakin', but this be not th' starrrboarrrd way, and a bottle of rum! This be sneaky, and a bottle of rum!"
"I thin kie th' subject o' salarrry incrrreases be somethin' that tharrrshould be discuss'd wit' public trrransparrrency as a stand-like an isle item and not hidden away like this,""
Whoa! How in th' ol' salty sea be puttin' th' rrraises in th ebudget b'lowits own line "sneaky?"
Sneaky would have been hidin' th' rrraises b'lowa differrrent budget line, and a bottle of rum!
Maybe Schmitt should jus' rrread th' budget, and a bottle of rum!
Ye know, do his job, and a bottle of rum!
Last time Schmitt werrre bein' lazy about rrreadin' a prrroposal, Nassau County lost $70million, and a bottle of rum!
Aye!, th' budget be "telephone-size" which brrrackish I guess he means telephone log-siz'd but it be Schmitts job t' rrread it beforrre votes on it, and a bottle of rum!
Did Schmitt want some bilge rrrat t' log a Cliff Naytes verrrsion ferrr him?
To parrrapharrrse Schmitt ferrr his rrresponse t' Suozzi's State o' th' County Addrrress aforrre this yearrr "Peterrr, Do, and a bottle of rum! Yourrr, and a bottle of rum! Job, and a bottle of rum!"
Look, I be knowin' that tharrrsometimes dismal exist'nce can be busy, and a bottle of rum! Heck, I have 3 minnows b'low4, and a bottle of rum!
But if all ye do be be a parrrt-time Legislatorrr and not have any otherrr job, ye can at least rrread th' budget prrroposal given t' ye, and a bottle of rum!
In a tale in Newsday, it be rrreveal'd that tharrrin th' budget prrroposal ferrr next yearrr therrre be salarrry incrrreases frrrom yon th' County Executive t' th' County Clerrrk, and a bottle of rum!
The budget prrroposal be a public document, and a bottle of rum!
Schmitt as Minorrrity Leaderrr werrre bein' given a copy, and a bottle of rum!
This be what in th' name o' Davy Jones he said t' Newsday about th' rrraises "Minorrrity Leaderrr Peterrr Schmitt said he werrre bein' "disappointed" that tharrrSuozzi did not be tellin' th' legislaturrre about th' rrraises, which brrrackish werrre in th' salarrry lines o' ev'rrry elect'd official in a "telephone-size" supporrrtin' budget log, and a bottle of rum! "I have always been supporrrtive o' th' notion o' salarrry incrrreases," Schmitt said, and a bottle of rum! "I thin kie e'errryone be underrrpaid rrrelatively speakin', but this be not th' starrrboarrrd way, and a bottle of rum! This be sneaky, and a bottle of rum!"
"I thin kie th' subject o' salarrry incrrreases be somethin' that tharrrshould be discuss'd wit' public trrransparrrency as a stand-like an isle item and not hidden away like this,""
Whoa! How in th' ol' salty sea be puttin' th' rrraises in th ebudget b'lowits own line "sneaky?"
Sneaky would have been hidin' th' rrraises b'lowa differrrent budget line, and a bottle of rum!
Maybe Schmitt should jus' rrread th' budget, and a bottle of rum!
Ye know, do his job, and a bottle of rum!
Last time Schmitt werrre bein' lazy about rrreadin' a prrroposal, Nassau County lost $70million, and a bottle of rum!
Aye!, th' budget be "telephone-size" which brrrackish I guess he means telephone log-siz'd but it be Schmitts job t' rrread it beforrre votes on it, and a bottle of rum!
Did Schmitt want some bilge rrrat t' log a Cliff Naytes verrrsion ferrr him?
To parrrapharrrse Schmitt ferrr his rrresponse t' Suozzi's State o' th' County Addrrress aforrre this yearrr "Peterrr, Do, and a bottle of rum! Yourrr, and a bottle of rum! Job, and a bottle of rum!"
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Schmitt Admits to Not Doing His job
Look, I know that sometimes life can be busy. Heck, I have 3 kids under 4.
But if all you do is be a part-time Legislator and not have any other job, you can at least read the budget proposal given to you.
In a story in Newsday, it is revealed that in the budget proposal for next year there are salary increases from the County Executive to the County Clerk.
The budget proposal is a public document.
Schmitt as Minority Leader was given a copy.
This is what he said to Newsday about the raises "Minority Leader Peter Schmitt said he was "disappointed" that Suozzi did not tell the legislature about the raises, which were in the salary lines of each elected official in a "telephone-size" supporting budget book. "I have always been supportive of the idea of salary increases," Schmitt said. "I think everyone is underpaid relatively speaking, but this is not the right way. This is sneaky."
"I think the subject of salary increases is something that should be discussed with public transparency as a stand-alone item and not hidden away like this,""
Whoa! How is putting the raises in th ebudget under its own line "sneaky?"
Sneaky would have been hiding the raises under a different budget line.
Maybe Schmitt should just read the budget.
You know, do his job.
Last time Schmitt was lazy about reading a proposal, Nassau County lost $70million.
Yes, the budget is "telephone-size" which I guess he means telephone book-sized but it is Schmitts job to read it before votes on it.
Did Schmitt want someone to write a Cliff Notes version for him?
To parapharse Schmitt for his response to Suozzi's State of the County Address earlier this year "Peter, Do. Your. Job."
But if all you do is be a part-time Legislator and not have any other job, you can at least read the budget proposal given to you.
In a story in Newsday, it is revealed that in the budget proposal for next year there are salary increases from the County Executive to the County Clerk.
The budget proposal is a public document.
Schmitt as Minority Leader was given a copy.
This is what he said to Newsday about the raises "Minority Leader Peter Schmitt said he was "disappointed" that Suozzi did not tell the legislature about the raises, which were in the salary lines of each elected official in a "telephone-size" supporting budget book. "I have always been supportive of the idea of salary increases," Schmitt said. "I think everyone is underpaid relatively speaking, but this is not the right way. This is sneaky."
"I think the subject of salary increases is something that should be discussed with public transparency as a stand-alone item and not hidden away like this,""
Whoa! How is putting the raises in th ebudget under its own line "sneaky?"
Sneaky would have been hiding the raises under a different budget line.
Maybe Schmitt should just read the budget.
You know, do his job.
Last time Schmitt was lazy about reading a proposal, Nassau County lost $70million.
Yes, the budget is "telephone-size" which I guess he means telephone book-sized but it is Schmitts job to read it before votes on it.
Did Schmitt want someone to write a Cliff Notes version for him?
To parapharse Schmitt for his response to Suozzi's State of the County Address earlier this year "Peter, Do. Your. Job."
Monday, September 17, 2007
More on TOBAY Shenanigans
Newsday picked up the story but adds more questions "For Oyster Bay appointee, a second chance
Frank Sammartano was given a second-chance, acknowledges Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto.
Sammartano resigned in 2003 as administrative assistant to Republican town board members after admitting he lifted a computer disk from the desk of a secretary for a a Democratic board member. “This type of behavior will not be tolerated in the Town of Oyster Bay,” Republican Venditto said then.
Democratic legislature candidate John Rennhack's Nassau GOPwatch reported last week that Sammartano, leader of the Jericho Republican club, was back on the payroll. A town spokeswoman subsequently told Newsday that Sammartano, who resigned in July 2003 at a salary of $52,000, was rehired in Jan. 2004 as a labor supervisor and was promoted last November to a $81,375-a-year public works deputy commissioner.
Venditto said Sammartano came to him and made a case for being rehired, pointing out that then Nassau District Attorney Denis Dillon had dropped the original misdemeanor charge of official misconduct to a non-criminal violation.
“I have track record of giving town employees at all levels of the town government a second chance,” Venditto said. “Frank is one of the situations that has had a happy ending. He is and continues to be a very valuable employee in the Town of Oyster Bay.”
As for Sammartano’s political activities, “Its not a factor in my determination,” Venditto said.
Celeste Hadrick"
Here are a few questions:
If Venditto has a "track record" of giving second chances,
A. Why did Venditto accept Sammartano's resignation?
B. Why was it 6 months between the resignation and re-hiring?
C. Did Venditto personally re-hire Sammartant?
Why did DA Dillon drop the misdemeanor charge?
What was the "non-criminal violation" that Venditto holds up as being okay enough to rehire?
Why wasn't Sammartano re-hired by the Town Council?
Venditto said Sammartano came to him to be rehired. Was there are job opening at that time that Sammartano was asking for a job or was a job made for him?
Was Sammartano qualified for the job?
How many other applicants were there for that job?
Was that job posted so that there could be other applicants?
What it looks like is that Venditto waited until no one was looking, found a job for Sammartano and hoped no one would ever find out.
Politics is a consideration because if you look at the Town Employee list, you will see a heck of a lot of connected people working for the Town. Relatives of elected officials get jobs, republican party-connected people get jobs and in some cases, entire families are on the payroll.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
What Kate Murray Doesn't See Won't Bother Her
We have another gem from the Tea Murray website. No, that is not a typo, the website address is missing an "m."
Anyway, Kate and her Team list their "accomplishments" and one is "Recently, Kate enacted tough new laws to stop “McMansions” from destroying our neighborhoods."
Now if I didn't know better I would think that Eagle-eyed Kate finds the "McMansions" to be troublesome and unsightly.
I guess that only counts when the person with the "McMansion" isn't a republican commitee-man and a Town Employee.... who lives on Murray's block.
Remember disgraced Hempstead building commissioner John Loeffel who was busted for not having any permits for work done on his own house?
Here is Loeffel's house before he added a few small things.
And when I say a few small things I mean he blew out the back, but a second floor on, added an attic that looks like it can be a whole other house and built a front porch from which he sat upon a swing and waved to Kate as she passed by.
Here is the "After" photo.
Does this look like a normal building job that can go unnoticed?
The permits need to be posted in a visible area.
Didn't Murray see a definite lack of permits as the huge house was being built?
Murray told the Levittown Tribune "It is inexcusable. The building commissioner has to be held to a higher standard."
And the Supervisor who knows the Commissioner and lives on the same block ought to be more aware.
Anyway, Kate and her Team list their "accomplishments" and one is "Recently, Kate enacted tough new laws to stop “McMansions” from destroying our neighborhoods."
Now if I didn't know better I would think that Eagle-eyed Kate finds the "McMansions" to be troublesome and unsightly.
I guess that only counts when the person with the "McMansion" isn't a republican commitee-man and a Town Employee.... who lives on Murray's block.
Remember disgraced Hempstead building commissioner John Loeffel who was busted for not having any permits for work done on his own house?
Here is Loeffel's house before he added a few small things.
And when I say a few small things I mean he blew out the back, but a second floor on, added an attic that looks like it can be a whole other house and built a front porch from which he sat upon a swing and waved to Kate as she passed by.Here is the "After" photo.
Does this look like a normal building job that can go unnoticed?
The permits need to be posted in a visible area.
Didn't Murray see a definite lack of permits as the huge house was being built?
Murray told the Levittown Tribune "It is inexcusable. The building commissioner has to be held to a higher standard."
And the Supervisor who knows the Commissioner and lives on the same block ought to be more aware.
Schmitt Can't Even Tell the Truth about His College Graduation
Even the little things are tough for him.
On his website Peterjschmitt.com, he says he graduated from Hofstra in 1973. According to a Newsday article last year, "Schmitt finished his bachelor's degree in political science at Hofstra, which awarded the degree eight years after he started, in October 1976, university records show. That date is at odds with his public statements in recent years. In 2004, he gave the graduation date as 1972 to Newsday. It is listed as 1973 on his Legislature Web site. And in 2003 he gave the date as 1974 to Massapequa weekly newspapers. Schmitt said giving the wrong graduation dates was an "oversight.”
So the "oversight" continues.
I graduated from St. John's University in 1991. Ask me in 10 years and I'll still say 1991. Ask me in 20 years and it will still be 1991.
If he can't even tell you what year he graduated, what else isn't he telling you?
It's now time for Leadership You Can Trust.
On his website Peterjschmitt.com, he says he graduated from Hofstra in 1973. According to a Newsday article last year, "Schmitt finished his bachelor's degree in political science at Hofstra, which awarded the degree eight years after he started, in October 1976, university records show. That date is at odds with his public statements in recent years. In 2004, he gave the graduation date as 1972 to Newsday. It is listed as 1973 on his Legislature Web site. And in 2003 he gave the date as 1974 to Massapequa weekly newspapers. Schmitt said giving the wrong graduation dates was an "oversight.”
So the "oversight" continues.
I graduated from St. John's University in 1991. Ask me in 10 years and I'll still say 1991. Ask me in 20 years and it will still be 1991.
If he can't even tell you what year he graduated, what else isn't he telling you?
It's now time for Leadership You Can Trust.
Venditto Gets Taken Down a Few Rungs
Keith Scalia, the Democratic candidate for the Town of Oyster Bay Town Council exposes the truth about Venditto in the Massapequa Post.
"Dear Editor:
"Dear Editor:
I applaud the commitment made by Supervisor Venditto and the Town of Oyster Bay Council in their signing of the U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement, and their promise to “reduce greenhouse emissions in the Town to seven percent below 1990 levels by 2012.” However, your lead article in the August 22, 2007 (“Town of Oyster Bay first to Go Green in Nassau”) is just another example of this current administration’s penchant for shameless self-promotion and half-truths.
According to the Town of Oyster Bay website, the Public Safety’s Division of Emergency Management “oversees all phases of emergency management for the Town, including preparedness and response for hurricanes, hazardous materials incidents and all other natural or manmade disasters that may affect the Town”, while the Division of Security is “responsible for the enforcement of parking regulations and removal of abandoned vehicles on public streets, parking lots, railroad stations, Town parks and beaches, and other sites regulated by the parking provisions of the Uniform Traffic Code of the Town of Oyster Bay. The division also furnishes, coordinates and maintains security services for all Town-owned real and personal property, as well as railroad stations and surrounding parking facilities located within the Town, as well as other duties as may be deemed necessary to provide for the enforcement and general security of the Town government in the conduct of Town business.” Considering the Town of Oyster Bay stretches from “the Atlantic Ocean on the south, to the Long Island Sound on the north”, and the large scope of duties and miles that the Department of Public Safety has to cover, the Town’s acquisition of a large fleet of SUV’s is about as irrational a decision environmentally conscious public servants can make.
The white Jeep Libertys can regularly be seen driving all around the Town of Oyster Bay, and also fueling up at Town Hall South on Hicksville Road in Massapequa. The EPA has estimated that a Jeep Liberty 4x4 with a 3.7 liter V-6 engine will obtain a measly 15 miles per gallon. Greenhouse gas emissions contribute to climate change. Naturally, cars that attain better gas mileage emit less greenhouse gasses.
There were many alternative “green” vehicles the Town could have opted for in similar price ranges to the Jeep Liberty. While it is unclear to me why the Public Safety Department requires the inefficient SUV’s to perform the range of duties their job entails, the Ford Motor Company manufactures a hybrid SUV (the Escape). Around town, the hybrid Ford Escape gets 28 miles per gallon. Moreover the hybrid Ford Escape is an entirely more environmentally friendly vehicle, as it causes significantly less greenhouse gas emissions and creates far less emissions that lead to air pollution that is harmful to human health and a contributor to smog.
If Supervisor Venditto and his fellow Town Board members were truly reinforcing their “commitment to continue to meet the challenge of reducing global warming head-on”, they would certainly have had more vision, foresight, and common sense than to acquire a large fleet of eco-unfriendly SUV’s for the Town’s Public Safety Department.
Mahatma Gandhi once stated that “you must be the change you wish to see in the world."
If Mr. Venditto is the “trailblazer” he claims to be, he will trade in his gas-guzzling Crown Victoria for a Toyota Prius; thus “preserving the quality of life” for this generation, and the generations to come.
Keith Scalia, D-WF
2007 Candidate for Town of Oyster Bay Council"
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Team Murray Uses Misleading Graphs
If you visit Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murrays re-election website, you are greeted with tha phrase "Leadership You Can Trust."
Murray shouldn't be throwing the "trust" word around so lightly. On her own site, she includes a graph detailing the Town of Hempstead Bond Rating. The accompioning text says "Standard & Poors, the respected bond rater,) has assigned Murray’s government a rating of Aa+, a full four steps higher than Nassau County."
Indeed. If you look at the graph below, Nassau is rated as "A" and ToH is rated as Aa+.
If you count from "A" to Aa+", it does indeed look like "four steps higher than Nassau." And the graph dramatically shows the HUGE gap between Nassau and the Town of Hempstead.
Of course, this is not exactly where the truth lies. The "+" ratings are NOT full points but intermidiary ratings. And the chart has three versions of "A" and three versions on "Aa" which makes it look like there is a bigger difference.
Now here is a graph with all of the FULL ratings S&P gives out.
Notice how the differnce between Nassau and ToH aren't that far apart. Team Murray also neglected to put the "Aaa" rating in. According to that graph, "Aa+" is the best available.
If anything, ToH is only 1 1/2 points better than Nassau - NOT 4.
Team Murray, Leadership you CAN'T Trust.
Murray shouldn't be throwing the "trust" word around so lightly. On her own site, she includes a graph detailing the Town of Hempstead Bond Rating. The accompioning text says "Standard & Poors, the respected bond rater,) has assigned Murray’s government a rating of Aa+, a full four steps higher than Nassau County."
Indeed. If you look at the graph below, Nassau is rated as "A" and ToH is rated as Aa+.
If you count from "A" to Aa+", it does indeed look like "four steps higher than Nassau." And the graph dramatically shows the HUGE gap between Nassau and the Town of Hempstead.
Of course, this is not exactly where the truth lies. The "+" ratings are NOT full points but intermidiary ratings. And the chart has three versions of "A" and three versions on "Aa" which makes it look like there is a bigger difference.
Now here is a graph with all of the FULL ratings S&P gives out.
Notice how the differnce between Nassau and ToH aren't that far apart. Team Murray also neglected to put the "Aaa" rating in. According to that graph, "Aa+" is the best available.
If anything, ToH is only 1 1/2 points better than Nassau - NOT 4.
Team Murray, Leadership you CAN'T Trust.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Shenanigans in the Town of Oyster Bay
I had some down-time this past week so I hopped in the Wayback Machine to do a little research.
Back in 2003 there was a small kerkuffle in the Town of Oyster Bay when Democratic Town Councilwoman Bonnie Eislers desk was broken into and a disk was stolen. The disk contained plans for a rally and the press release for the rally. This information was disseminated to republican officials.
The thief turned out to be the Town Council Administrative Assistant Frank Sammartano. At the time, Supervisor John Venditto said in Newsday "I became furious when I heard Mr. Sammartano's admissions. This type of behavior will not be tolerated in the Town of Oyster Bay." Sammartano subsequently resigned and that seemed to be the end of that.
Oh wait, Sammartano is the Jericho Republican Leader so there is no way he was going to just give up the salary from a patronage job.
Venditto who is also a republican and must know the Jericho leader quite well said "At the expense of sounding somewhat melodramatic, this is a very sad and tragic story. It is the story of someone who worked his way up the ranks and, because he handled himself well, got an opportunity to serve as administrative assistant to the town board. And because of his own omissions, got himself involved in some political shenanigans. [His actions] were a breach of his fiduciary duty to each member of the town board. From our standpoint, that is the problem."
So we have "breach of fiduciary duty" and "This type of behavior will not be tolerated in the Town of Oyster Bay."
But why is Frank Sammartano now working for the Town of Oyster Bay Department of Public Works?
According to employee records and a reliable source, the same Frank Sammartano who could not be trusted working for the Town Council got another job with the Town after he resigned.
Loyal republicans, especially leaders get rewarded and keep getting rewarded.
When did he start to work for DPW?
Who hired him after he resigned in 2003?
Why would the Town re-hire an admitted thief?
These are important questions.
It seems Venditto just shifted a bad employee from one area to another so he could keep his politically-connected salary.
I bet Venditto figured people would stop paying attention so the Jericho Republican Leader could get another patronage job with the Town.
What does this say about Vendittos judgment and his ability to be a real leader? This is to quote Venditto "political shenanigans." And is really indicative of the republican machine that runs the Town of Oyster Bay.
What else is going on in TOBAY we don't know about yet?
Back in 2003 there was a small kerkuffle in the Town of Oyster Bay when Democratic Town Councilwoman Bonnie Eislers desk was broken into and a disk was stolen. The disk contained plans for a rally and the press release for the rally. This information was disseminated to republican officials.
The thief turned out to be the Town Council Administrative Assistant Frank Sammartano. At the time, Supervisor John Venditto said in Newsday "I became furious when I heard Mr. Sammartano's admissions. This type of behavior will not be tolerated in the Town of Oyster Bay." Sammartano subsequently resigned and that seemed to be the end of that.
Oh wait, Sammartano is the Jericho Republican Leader so there is no way he was going to just give up the salary from a patronage job.
Venditto who is also a republican and must know the Jericho leader quite well said "At the expense of sounding somewhat melodramatic, this is a very sad and tragic story. It is the story of someone who worked his way up the ranks and, because he handled himself well, got an opportunity to serve as administrative assistant to the town board. And because of his own omissions, got himself involved in some political shenanigans. [His actions] were a breach of his fiduciary duty to each member of the town board. From our standpoint, that is the problem."
So we have "breach of fiduciary duty" and "This type of behavior will not be tolerated in the Town of Oyster Bay."
But why is Frank Sammartano now working for the Town of Oyster Bay Department of Public Works?
According to employee records and a reliable source, the same Frank Sammartano who could not be trusted working for the Town Council got another job with the Town after he resigned.
Loyal republicans, especially leaders get rewarded and keep getting rewarded.
When did he start to work for DPW?
Who hired him after he resigned in 2003?
Why would the Town re-hire an admitted thief?
These are important questions.
It seems Venditto just shifted a bad employee from one area to another so he could keep his politically-connected salary.
I bet Venditto figured people would stop paying attention so the Jericho Republican Leader could get another patronage job with the Town.
What does this say about Vendittos judgment and his ability to be a real leader? This is to quote Venditto "political shenanigans." And is really indicative of the republican machine that runs the Town of Oyster Bay.
What else is going on in TOBAY we don't know about yet?
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Are the Salad Days Over?
At first we thought the talk of Assemblyman Joe Saladino being on the outs with party bosses and other electeds in TOBAY was just more hot air. The attached idea being that on eof the reasons he is on the outs is because he would not run against Democratic Legislator Dave Mejias. That set off the BS detector because Saladino doesn't live in the 14th LD and really wouldn't want to move.
Now we get more confirmation from better sources that yes indeed, Saladino is no longer a chosen one.
Joe is a party guy - a republican party guy. He has done what he needed to do to get ahead and get his turn to run for office. Back when he worked for TOBAY, it was remarked that Joe (while seated reading the newspaper every day) "..is going places."
Joe is a tireless self-promoter and not a photo-op goes by without Joe's smiling mug. Joe dutifully votes the way he is supposed to and as far as I can tell hasn't shown an independent streak. What could be the cause of other electeds not wanting to share a stage with him or party officials being exasperated with him?
One though is that during last years assembly race that favored Joe 3-1, Joe was too much of a pain to the party. While Joe could walk away with the race because of party registration in the district (NOTE: His vote total did go down), Joe still got needy and probably annoying.
Democrat Craig Heller put up a strong race and attended events to get his name and face out to the voters. This I'm sure didn't sit well with Joe.
In fact, at one event, Heller was ignored by the republican electeds when they were supposed to announce him presenting a citation on behalf of County Executive Suozzi. Heller was also asked not to "campaign" by republicans at an event even though Joe was doing it.
As the campaign went on, Joe asked the party for more signs (some re-painted Clavin signs) and help and had more and more signs got plastered all over the district. Joe was acting desperate when he didn't need to. That probably annoyed some people when they had their own elections to be concerned with.
Also we know that he asks other electeds or party leaders to step in on his behalf to squelch any bad talk about him. This started back when Joe ran in the special election to fill Labriola's vacancy. An elected official stepped in to get a letter to the local papers written about a picture of Joe's opponent.
Are Joe's fellow republicans fed-up with is needy-ness?
Another school of thought is that Joe wants to move up in TOBAY but that would mean cutting the line others have been standing on.
When pressed for more info, sources in the party are keeping it tight-lipped but confirm that there are problems. How bad or how mundane and insignificant they are has yet to be determined.
Will this affect next years election? Probably not unless the party really wants to throw him under a bus. And to "re-assign" an elected (he would get a no-show job somewhere) isn't something the Nassau GOP would do.
More to come as info becomes available.
Now we get more confirmation from better sources that yes indeed, Saladino is no longer a chosen one.
Joe is a party guy - a republican party guy. He has done what he needed to do to get ahead and get his turn to run for office. Back when he worked for TOBAY, it was remarked that Joe (while seated reading the newspaper every day) "..is going places."
Joe is a tireless self-promoter and not a photo-op goes by without Joe's smiling mug. Joe dutifully votes the way he is supposed to and as far as I can tell hasn't shown an independent streak. What could be the cause of other electeds not wanting to share a stage with him or party officials being exasperated with him?
One though is that during last years assembly race that favored Joe 3-1, Joe was too much of a pain to the party. While Joe could walk away with the race because of party registration in the district (NOTE: His vote total did go down), Joe still got needy and probably annoying.
Democrat Craig Heller put up a strong race and attended events to get his name and face out to the voters. This I'm sure didn't sit well with Joe.
In fact, at one event, Heller was ignored by the republican electeds when they were supposed to announce him presenting a citation on behalf of County Executive Suozzi. Heller was also asked not to "campaign" by republicans at an event even though Joe was doing it.
As the campaign went on, Joe asked the party for more signs (some re-painted Clavin signs) and help and had more and more signs got plastered all over the district. Joe was acting desperate when he didn't need to. That probably annoyed some people when they had their own elections to be concerned with.
Also we know that he asks other electeds or party leaders to step in on his behalf to squelch any bad talk about him. This started back when Joe ran in the special election to fill Labriola's vacancy. An elected official stepped in to get a letter to the local papers written about a picture of Joe's opponent.
Are Joe's fellow republicans fed-up with is needy-ness?
Another school of thought is that Joe wants to move up in TOBAY but that would mean cutting the line others have been standing on.
When pressed for more info, sources in the party are keeping it tight-lipped but confirm that there are problems. How bad or how mundane and insignificant they are has yet to be determined.
Will this affect next years election? Probably not unless the party really wants to throw him under a bus. And to "re-assign" an elected (he would get a no-show job somewhere) isn't something the Nassau GOP would do.
More to come as info becomes available.
Monday, September 03, 2007
I'm in Newsday Today
Any press is good press.
"CHALLENGERS' CORNER: Beyond those mentioned last week, a few challenges to incumbents in the Suffolk and Nassau legislatures promise some crossfire in the upcoming election season, long shots though they may be. Democrat John Rennhack, who keeps his Nassau GOP Watch Web site loaded with fresh verbal assaults, is making another go at the seat held by GOP Minority Leader Peter Schmitt, with taxes and lawsuits his theme."
"CHALLENGERS' CORNER: Beyond those mentioned last week, a few challenges to incumbents in the Suffolk and Nassau legislatures promise some crossfire in the upcoming election season, long shots though they may be. Democrat John Rennhack, who keeps his Nassau GOP Watch Web site loaded with fresh verbal assaults, is making another go at the seat held by GOP Minority Leader Peter Schmitt, with taxes and lawsuits his theme."
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Newsday Gets it Right About TOBAY Supervisor Venditto
From today's Newsday editorial on solving Long Island's problems...
"One example is the head-in-the-sand approach of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto. His defense is always that he's just doing what the people want. Implicit in his attitude is that, hey, I get elected and re-elected - that's the game. But that's not good enough for the problems facing this island now."
He either sticks his finger in the air to see which way the wind is blowing or he steals others ideas and claims them as his own. The Next Generation Housing idea for TOBAY was the idea of Councilwoman McCaffery. Listening to Johnny V., you would think he thought of it himself.
"One example is the head-in-the-sand approach of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto. His defense is always that he's just doing what the people want. Implicit in his attitude is that, hey, I get elected and re-elected - that's the game. But that's not good enough for the problems facing this island now."
He either sticks his finger in the air to see which way the wind is blowing or he steals others ideas and claims them as his own. The Next Generation Housing idea for TOBAY was the idea of Councilwoman McCaffery. Listening to Johnny V., you would think he thought of it himself.
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