It's the School Taxes, Stupid

Dean Skelos gathered the other do-nothings of the Long Island Senate delegation (all republicans) and Newsday reports "At another GOP event Saturday, seven of Long Island's eight state senators gathered on the lawn of a Mineola family to denounce Spitzer's property tax plan as unfair. A steamroller was parked in the driveway of Karyn and Chris Franz's home in mockery of Spitzer, who recently called himself a political steamroller.
The senators, too, singled out for mention the governor's position on STAR credits, saying that families making more than $80,000 yearly should get more benefits than Spitzer's plan calls for. State Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre), the deputy majority leader, criticized Johnson for supporting the governor's plan, noting that the median income on Long Island is higher than $80,000.Pointing at the Franzes -- Chris, 39, a New York City firefighter, and Karyn, 37, a teacher, together make more than $80,000 -- Skelos said: "That's who it's going to hurt, firefighters and teachers. People can't afford their taxes."

Not so fast Dean-o...
"The Spitzer administration disputed that, saying families that make more than $80,000 a year still will get large property tax cuts. For instance, families making between $80,000 and $120,000 will see a 65 percent increase in STAR tax credits, Paul Francis, Spitzer's budget director, said in an interview."

And that really isn't the problem in Nassau anyway.
The problem is the school tax.
That is what really puts homeowners on the brink.
And where have Skelos, Fuschillo and the rest been all these years?
Nowhere.
Nassau does not get its fair share of state school funding and for years our republican state senators have been AWOL on the issue.
The election year stunt with the fake "rebates" last year didn't even come close to helping homeowners with thier school taxes.
The school funding formula was and is an issue that Skelos and the gang couldn't be bothered to touch. Skelos even threw the blame on the school districts for not trimming thier budgets.
Skelos likes to tout that he has "secured" more funding for school districts in his SD but he never says where the money comes from or mention that it's a one-shot.
And the money he's getting does nothing to lower school taxes.
We need a long-term solution and Skelos, Fuschillo, Hannon, and Marcellino aren't doing thier job.

The Unmitigated Gall of Schmitt and His Crony Ed Ward

You really have to get a roadmap to follow all the players in Nassau County politics. You need the roadmap because the public doesn't know about all the little side roads that are out there. Take for instance the budget for Nassau Community College. The budget is being held up in the legislature because of a proposed $166 increase in tuition. Many NCC students work very hard and $166 might seem like a small sum to many but to students at NCC, that may mean dropping out or putting off taking more classes. I agree that the $166 increase should be eliminated. But how do you do it? Let's hear from Ed Ward, the $80,000/year spokesman for Peter Schmitt who is quoted in Newsday "Ed Ward, spokesman for Minority Leader Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa), said yesterday that Schmitt wanted to see what the college presents as an alternative budget. Schmitt said he's most concerned about the $166 annual tuition hike."
Funny thing is, Ed Ward is an employee of NCC.. specifically Vice President of Legal Affairs. How much is he making there? Maybe if he quits, the college eliminates his salary and Ward survives on the $80,000 he makes on the taxpayers dime, there won't be a $166 increase. Oh wait, Ward lives off the taxpayers dime no matter what he does.
Let's ask for Ward to resign from NCC so they save his salary and pass that savings on to the students.

Patronage an Issue in Nassau Budget

Five years ago, Suozzi communications director Bruce Nyman said "Peter Schmitt talking about patronage is like Enron giving us a lecture about corporate ethics.''
In the recent run-up to the County budget debates, Minority Leader Peter Schmitt brought up patronage jobs as a way to cut spending. I've been against patronage jobsfor a long time. Schmitt is very selective about what patronage he opposes. John Riley at Newsday Spin Cycle reports "Political wives took center stage at a meeting of the Nassau County Legislature this week.They were drafted into a rambling, rancorous, protracted debate on political patronage Monday evening after Republicans said County Executive Thomas Suozzi should cut patronage hires from his budget before raising property taxes.
Legis. David Mejias (D-Farmingdale) argued that Republicans who control two of the three towns in Nassau also play the patronage game. He pointed out that the wife of a former U.S. Senator (Katuria, left, married to Republican Alfonse D’Amato) was on the zoning board of the Town of Hempstead.
“...And from what I know she knows nothing about real estate or development,” Mejias said.
Republican Legislators Peter Schmitt of Massapequa and John Ciotti of North Franklin of North Valley Stream said Mejias and Democrats should focus on Nassau County, not the towns. And they pointed out that the wife of a certain New York City Congressman [that would be U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Jamaica), right] was on the county payroll."

Mejias was being kind that he didn't bring up Peter Schmitt's wife Lois who got a patronage job with the Town of Oyster Bay Zoning Board. Heck, Schmitt spent his entire adult life working patronage jobs until he got elected.
But if Ciotti and Schmitt want to stick to the County jobs, let's talk about PART-TIME republican spokesman Ed Ward who makes $80,000. Ward was a Nassau legislator defeated back in 1999. Not only does Ward get $80,000 for part-time work, he works full-time as VP-Legal Affairs at Nassau Community College. Then lets talk abut GOP Boss Mondello's son-in-law hired by Schmitt for more money than the person that held that job previously.
Schmitt is not being honest on the patronage issue and he has a history with that. Back in 1999 when fortunes of nassau republicans were slipping, Schmitt was at odds with CE Gulotta. To make it look like the republican legislators cared, Schmitt went after patronage jobs - low level jobs that were controlled by Gulotta. The New York Times explained "After a week's worth of politically innocuous cuts in expenses for calendars, cellular telephones and beepers, Presiding Officer Bruce A. Blakeman and his deputy, Peter Schmitt, took aim today for the first time directly at patronage, the currency with which the party has sustained itself for decades.

Only $2.4 million would be saved by eliminating a total of 33 patronage jobs, the two legislators said. And only 26 people will actually be affected, because the other seven have already signed up for early retirement or been transferred, they said.

Those 26 include a former Republican mayor of Glen Cove, Alan Parente, who earns $84,000 a year as a special assistant in the Civil Service Department. But for the most part, they are secretaries and other low-level appointees. Nineteen are women.

In keeping with the deepening animosity between Republican lawmakers and their party's titular leader, County Executive Thomas S. Gulotta, Mr. Blakeman and Mr. Schmitt saved much of the scant pain in today's round of cuts for people who were appointed by Mr. Gulotta and are seen as more loyal to him than to the party.

For example, they eliminated the job of Caroline Smith, who works as Mr. Gulotta's spokeswoman but is listed as a $55,000-a-year research aide for the Commissioner of Accounts, even as the job of press secretary is listed as vacant.

Mr. Blakeman and Mr. Schmitt also cut the $97,854-a-year position now held by Howard Taylor, who functions as Mr. Gulotta's legal counsel. They noted that he is actually paid by the County Attorney's office, which defends the county against lawsuits and which has been so understaffed that it has turned over much of its caseload to expensive outside law firms."

After the Democrats took control of the Legislature, Schmitt tried to block the replacement of republican patronage job holders "After their election upset, the Democrats became the legislature's majority on Jan. 1. But most agencies remain under the firm control of County Executive Thomas S. Gulotta, a Republican. The betting agency is an exception because its three-member board is chosen by the county legislature.

The Republicans are not relinquishing power without a struggle, trying to block the Democrats from appointing new directors. The Republicans contend that one Democratic legislator has a conflict of interests because he works for the New York City O.T.B. and should be barred from voting. Without him, the legislature would be deadlocked, 9 to 9. Thus the Republican directors would remain in office.

"This is going to end up in court," promised the Republican minority leader, Peter J. Schmitt, who wants a ruling by the county's ethics board.

The Democrats contend that there is no conflict because the Nassau agency is separate from the city's, and they intend to forge ahead with their appointments, which are on the legislature's calendar for tomorrow.

In another Republican move to thwart a Democratic takeover, the agency's president and chairman, Gregory P. Peterson, notes that he has nearly two years left in his contract. His job is highly coveted because the salary is far higher than for any other county official: $165,000. If he retired, he could qualify for a pension of $90,000 to $100,000."

And yes, sadly for his few short years on the OTB Board, Peterson has a $100,000 county pension.

Why is Ed Ward the Spokesman for the Nassau Republicans in the Legislature making $80,000?

Seriously.
This is another example of the hard work he does...
This is a "press release" from republican legislators. Could Ward have spent a few minutes to even try to make them different for each legislator??

"Legislator Dunne Votes to Provide Relief from Real Property Taxes
...Legislator Dunne will continue his fight on behalf of Nassau County residents to provide relief from escalating real property taxes. “I hope all qualified residents will apply for this relief. If any resident has any questions, please call me at 516-571-6215,” continued Legislator Dunne."

"Legislator Schmitt Votes to Provide Relief from Real Property Taxes
...Legislator Schmitt will continue his fight on behalf of Nassau County residents to provide relief from escalating real property taxes. “I hope all qualified residents will apply for this relief. If any resident has any questions, please call me at 516-571-6212,” continued Legislator Schmitt."

"Legislator Nicolello Votes to Provide Relief from Real Property Taxes
...Legislator Nicolello will continue his fight on behalf of Nassau County residents to provide relief from escalating real property taxes. “I hope all qualified residents will apply for this relief. If any resident has any questions, please call me at 516-571-6209,” continued Legislator Nicolello."

"Legislator Ford Votes to Provide Relief from Real Property Taxes
...Legislator Ford will continue her fight on behalf of Nassau County residents to provide relief from escalating real property taxes. “I hope all qualified residents will apply for this relief. If any resident has any questions, please call me at 516-571-6204,” continued Legislator Ford."

"Legislator Becker Votes to Provide Relief from Real Property Taxes
...Legislator Becker will continue his fight on behalf of Nassau County residents to provide relief from escalating real property taxes. “I hope all qualified residents will apply for this relief. If any resident has any questions, please call me at 516-571-6206,” continued Legislator Becker."

"Legislator Ciotti Votes to Provide Relief from Real Property Taxes
...Legislator Ciotti will continue his fight on behalf of Nassau County residents to provide relief from escalating real property taxes. “I hope all qualified residents will apply for this relief. If any resident has any questions, please call me at 516-571-6203,” continued Legislator Ciotti."

So they ALL said the same exact thing?
Nah, just a cut and paste job by Ward.
If Schmitt and the rest of the Gulotta republicans want to save the county money, lets start with the overpaid Ward.

Not only does Ward get $80,000 for a part-time job but he is VP-Legal Affairs at Nassau Community College.
Should'nt a part-time slary reflect part-time?
Imagine his salary if he was a full-time spokesman.

32 Day Pre-Election Campaign Filings for Barbara Donno

The Donno campaign came out of the last filing in negative territory and after this filing only has $51,000 left.
How much more will Skelos pump into the campaign?
Well, that would be another $80,000 contribution on September 23rd.
And a HUGE $151,182 spent by the Senate Republican Campaign Committee on September 29th.
That's a total spending by the Senate Republican Campaign Committee $889,709.
Almost 95% of all the money spent by and on the Donno campaign has been from Albany.

Here is the 32 Day Pre-Election numbers...
Opening Balance -$135,335.71
Contributions $104,596.02
Miscellaneous Receipts $282,000.00

Total Receipts $386,596.02
Total Expenses $199,746.98
Closing Balance $51,513.33
Report Date 10/07/08 06:10:12

Johnson has $433,769.18 on hand and he hasn't done any TV ads yet.
He has only gotten $4,289.14 from the Senate Democrats compared to almost a million dollars the republicans gave to Donno.
And Donno is still 24 points down.

Great investment, Dean.

Barbara Donno and Her Albany Underwriters

The republican challenger to Sen. Craig Johnson has received $462,000 in direct contributions from the New York Senate Republican Campaign Committee so far.
There is also the money spent by the SRCC on Donno's behalf which adds up to $196,527.

So total from the State Republicans IN ALBANY, Donno is the recipient of $658,527.
For that kind of cash from the republicans, you'd figure she would at least advertise that she is the republican candidate.
Albany money makes up more than 80% of Donno's campaign spending.
For a candidate that says she wants to go to Albany to "... work to be your voice in Albany" and "fight for the changes we need and deserve," she sure took alot of money from the establishment in Albany.
If Skelos is so nuts about winning that seat back, do you really think that Donno will vote any way other than the way Skelos wants her to vote?

You dance with the one that brung you and Skelos is the one that is bringing Donno.
With over half a million dollars from Albany so far, Donno is not a candidate for change in the state senate, she is the candidate of the status quo.

The Donno Albany Money breakdown...

6/20/08 - $45,000
6/30/08 - $135,000
7/14/08 - $175,000
8/21/08 - $27,000
8/25/08 - $53,738
9/8/08 - $80,000
9/15/08 - $142,789

$658,527

CW Ch. 11 News at 10 Covers 1-800-Hot-Schmitt

The Phone Sex Chat Line story isn't dying down with just a Newsday story. CW News at 10 (Ch.11) did a story Wednesday night on the phone number mistake.
Schmitt who would call a press conference if Suozzi colored out of the lines was "unavailable for comment." This is a guy who has no other job than the part-time Legislature job.
So the republicans use Ed "$80,000/year part-time" Ward to come up with an excuse.
It was just all one big 50,000 piece mailing oopsie.
Nothing to see here, move along.
Dave Mejias got some face time correctly pointing out that there should have been a check before the mailing went out. And he said this mistake is coming from Schmitt, the man who wants to run the legislature.
Some of the "man (or woman) on the street" interviews weren't very positive for Schmitt and the republicans.
the video of the segment.

I Donno How I Forgot This - More Albany Money for Donno

Yesterday I wrote about the $462,000 Donno has gotten from the New York Senate Republican Campaign Committee.

Well, I forgot to count the money spent by the SRCC on Donno's behalf which adds up to $196,527.

So total from the State Republicans IN ALBANY, Donno is the recipient of $658,527!!!
Albany money makes up more than 80% of Donno's campaign spending.

For a candidate that says she wants to go to Albany to "... work to be your voice in Albany" and "fight for the changes we need and deserve," she sure took alot of money from the establishment in Albany.
If Skelos is so nuts about winning that seat back, do you really think that Donno will vote any way other than the way Skelos wants her to vote?

You dance with the one that brung you and Skelos is the one that is bringing Donno.
With over half a million dollars from Albany so far, Donno is not a candidate for change in the state senate, she is the candidate of the status quo.

The Donno Albany money breakdown...

6/20/08 - $45,000
6/30/08 - $135,000
7/14/08 - $175,000
8/21/08 - $27,000
8/25/08 - $53,738
9/8/08 - $80,000
9/15/08 - $142,789

$658,527

Donno the "Not Your Typical Politician" Gets Bulk of Campaign Money from Albany

So far this year, Barbara Donno has taken $462,000 from the New York Senate Republican Campaign Committee.
Republican Senate Boss Dean Skelos kicked in $9500 too.
For that kind of cash from the republicans, you'd figure she would at least advertise that she is the republican candidate.
For someone running as someone who wants to "work to be your voice in Albany," she is bought and paid for by Dean Skelos.

Money breakdown:
6/20/08 - $45,000
6/30/08 - $135,000
7/14/08 - $175,000
8/21/08 - $27,000
9/8/08 - $80,000

The Ed Ward Follies

Ed Ward is the $80,000 a year part-time spokeperson for the republican legislators. He makes more than his boss Peter Schmitt.
Ward was at one time a legislator in Nassau but lost his re-election bid to the anger of voters over the fiscal malfeasence of the republicans when they were in charge. He actually doubled his salary
Once in a while he is called upon to make comments to the press. They are a wonderful look into the mind of Ed Ward. We'll update this new feature as quotes become available.

Ward tells Newsday Jan 10th regarding CE Suozzi running for Governor "It's a slap in the face to the residents who voted for him that 13 days after his new four-year term begins, he will focus on a run for governor instead of the myriad of problems that face Nassau County,"

That's funny. We would assume Ward supported Greg Peterson for County Executive last year. We can also assume he supported Peterson when he ran for re-election for Hempstead Supervisor. Did Ward think Peterson slapped Hempstead voters in the face when he resign just after being sworn in after being re-elected so he could take a cushy higher-paying job at OTB?
I bet he didn't.


In Newsday Jan 20th "The fight is not over.... Jacobs' efforts not to be affiliated with any party - a 'blank' had disenfranchised 18 legislators. Now who is going to represent them? We're not going to allow a blank to become presiding officer or minority leader."

Why not Ed? What's so wrong with an un-affiliated Presiding Officer or Minority Leader. Nearly 1/4 of voters regsitered in Nassau County (183,400) are "blank." The blanks as a voting bloc are larger than the number of voters who re-elected Tom Suozzi.
By backing Corbin and Altmann, the republicans are "disenfranchising" 8 Democratic legislators.
Also, the job of Presiding Officer as prescribed by the County Charter isn't a political position but a mangerial position. Who gets "disenfrachised" if an un-affilaited Presiding Officer does the job of Presiding Officer?
What would Ward do if a Conservative (C) or Right-to-Life (RTL) third-party candidate became PO?