The Pieman sent us his endorsements. It seems like a wasted effort. The Uncle expects that all his darling, little Anonymi have pretty firm views of whom they will vote for. But what the heck.
The Executive Board of SOCA At Work/OCEAN is endorsing the following candidates:
*Elaine Slobod for State Supreme Court Justice
*Myrna Kemnitz for County Legislator for the 7th District (Monroe)
*Lorraine McNeil and Michael Aronowitz for the Woodbury Town Council
*Brandon Nielsen for the Blooming Grove Town Council.
We are endorsing a mix of Republicans and Democrats. We believe that, in local politics, party affiliation matters far less than character and ability.
We would be happy to email a full explanation of our choices to anyone who contacts us at nyocean@gmail.com.
We ask that you learn the issues, question the candidates and vote.
The single largest bloc in any election is always those people who stay home.
Once we defeat apathy, everything else is easy.
Jonathan Swiller, Chairman
Nanci Binder, Vice Chairman
SOCA At Work/OCEAN
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Court orders continued study of KJ pipeline
By Chris McKenna
October 13, 2007Times Herald-Record
Kiryas Joel — An appeals court ruling on Kiryas Joel's controversial pipeline proposal has sided with Orange County by ordering the village to continue studying the potential environmental impact.
The judges declared Kiryas Joel must answer more fully such questions as how the village or county would treat the increased volume of sewage that would eventually result from the water-supply project.
But the Appellate Division decision released yesterday also contained good news for Kiryas Joel. Village Administrator Gedalye Szegedin said that by ordering the village to amend its environmental impact statement rather than create a separate statement, the judges spared Kiryas Joel another lengthy period of comments and criticism from government agencies and opponents.
"It's a King Solomon decision," Szegedin said.
He said village consultants will prepare a report answering the outstanding issues and give it to village trustees for approval, perhaps within four to six weeks. The trustees may then adopt a findings statement 10 days later, ending the environmental review.
"The level of scrutiny and level of oversight is totally limited to the Village of Kiryas Joel trustees," he said. "There is no other forum for anybody to raise any other issues."
Orange County officials couldn't reached for comment yesterday.
Kiryas Joel plans to build a 13-mile pipeline to tap New York City's Catskill Aqueduct in New Windsor. Village officials call it a long-term solution to the community's mounting water demand, one that would avoid competing with neighboring communities for ground water.
But opponents waged a ferocious campaign against the project in 2004 and convinced the county government to sue Kiryas Joel. The suit claimed that Kiryas Joel had conducted an inadequate environmental review.
Barring another lawsuit, the only remaining hurdle after the review is done is New York City's approval to tap its water supply.
The principal issue Kiryas Joel must address is sewage treatment, although the appeals court also asked for further review of other topics the county raised. One is the potential of the project to spur further growth in the already-booming community.
Three county lawmakers — Frank Fornario, R-Blooming Grove; Roxanne Donnery, D-Highland Falls; and the late Spencer McLaughlin, R-Monroe — led the fight to challenge the water project.
After hearing of the decision yesterday, Donnery and Fornario both said they would be upset if no further public input was required. But Fornario also said the demand for more study "validates the county's position. It justifies our decision to pursue this."
Woodbury activist and pipeline opponent Jonathan Swiller called the ruling a tribute to McLaughlin, who died of pancreatic cancer earlier this year.
"This was one last gift from Spencer McLaughlin to the county to make sure that the rules are followed by everyone and to protect our environment," he said.
October 13, 2007Times Herald-Record
Kiryas Joel — An appeals court ruling on Kiryas Joel's controversial pipeline proposal has sided with Orange County by ordering the village to continue studying the potential environmental impact.
The judges declared Kiryas Joel must answer more fully such questions as how the village or county would treat the increased volume of sewage that would eventually result from the water-supply project.
But the Appellate Division decision released yesterday also contained good news for Kiryas Joel. Village Administrator Gedalye Szegedin said that by ordering the village to amend its environmental impact statement rather than create a separate statement, the judges spared Kiryas Joel another lengthy period of comments and criticism from government agencies and opponents.
"It's a King Solomon decision," Szegedin said.
He said village consultants will prepare a report answering the outstanding issues and give it to village trustees for approval, perhaps within four to six weeks. The trustees may then adopt a findings statement 10 days later, ending the environmental review.
"The level of scrutiny and level of oversight is totally limited to the Village of Kiryas Joel trustees," he said. "There is no other forum for anybody to raise any other issues."
Orange County officials couldn't reached for comment yesterday.
Kiryas Joel plans to build a 13-mile pipeline to tap New York City's Catskill Aqueduct in New Windsor. Village officials call it a long-term solution to the community's mounting water demand, one that would avoid competing with neighboring communities for ground water.
But opponents waged a ferocious campaign against the project in 2004 and convinced the county government to sue Kiryas Joel. The suit claimed that Kiryas Joel had conducted an inadequate environmental review.
Barring another lawsuit, the only remaining hurdle after the review is done is New York City's approval to tap its water supply.
The principal issue Kiryas Joel must address is sewage treatment, although the appeals court also asked for further review of other topics the county raised. One is the potential of the project to spur further growth in the already-booming community.
Three county lawmakers — Frank Fornario, R-Blooming Grove; Roxanne Donnery, D-Highland Falls; and the late Spencer McLaughlin, R-Monroe — led the fight to challenge the water project.
After hearing of the decision yesterday, Donnery and Fornario both said they would be upset if no further public input was required. But Fornario also said the demand for more study "validates the county's position. It justifies our decision to pursue this."
Woodbury activist and pipeline opponent Jonathan Swiller called the ruling a tribute to McLaughlin, who died of pancreatic cancer earlier this year.
"This was one last gift from Spencer McLaughlin to the county to make sure that the rules are followed by everyone and to protect our environment," he said.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Orange County wins appeal in KJ pipeline suit
By Chris McKennaOctober 12, 2007
Goshen -- 1:40 p.m. -- An appeals court ruling on Kiryas Joel’s controversial pipeline proposal has sided with Orange County by ordering the village to continue studying the potential environmental impact.The judges declared Kiryas Joel must answer more fully such questions as how the village or county would treat the increased volume of sewage that would eventually result from the water-supply project.The ruling by the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court was signed Tuesday and released today. It essentially affirmed a 2005 ruling in state Supreme Court in Goshen.Kiryas Joel plans to build a 13-mile pipeline to tap New York City’s Catskill Aqueduct in New Windsor.
Village officials call it a long-term solution to the community’s ever-mounting water demand, one that would avoid competing with neighboring communities for groundwater.
But opponents waged a ferocious campaign against the project in 2004 and convinced the county government to sue Kiryas Joel.
The suit claimed that Kiryas Joel had conducted an inadequate environmental review.The principal issue is sewage treatment, although the appeals court also asked for further review of every other topic the county raised. One is the potential of the project to spur further growth in the already-booming community.
Goshen -- 1:40 p.m. -- An appeals court ruling on Kiryas Joel’s controversial pipeline proposal has sided with Orange County by ordering the village to continue studying the potential environmental impact.The judges declared Kiryas Joel must answer more fully such questions as how the village or county would treat the increased volume of sewage that would eventually result from the water-supply project.The ruling by the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court was signed Tuesday and released today. It essentially affirmed a 2005 ruling in state Supreme Court in Goshen.Kiryas Joel plans to build a 13-mile pipeline to tap New York City’s Catskill Aqueduct in New Windsor.
Village officials call it a long-term solution to the community’s ever-mounting water demand, one that would avoid competing with neighboring communities for groundwater.
But opponents waged a ferocious campaign against the project in 2004 and convinced the county government to sue Kiryas Joel.
The suit claimed that Kiryas Joel had conducted an inadequate environmental review.The principal issue is sewage treatment, although the appeals court also asked for further review of every other topic the county raised. One is the potential of the project to spur further growth in the already-booming community.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Fairness In Action
OK, so the Uncle is not a great fan of the man in the White House and this week his actions brought even more to piss and moan about.
It's true that I am not happy about the veto of the S CHIP program which would have extended health care for children.
I admit, that I was further put off, but not surprised that the troop "drawdown" of "at least a brigade" that Mr. Bush promised the nation isn't going to happen.
But, hey, there may well be pretty damn logical explanations for all this.
And, no doubt, there are those of you out there who like George Bush, think he's doing a slam bang job, and know what those pretty damn logical explanations are.
So, please, tell us.
The Uncle looks forward to reading the comments that you post explaining all this.
Thanks.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
The Pieman Has Something for Monroe Voters to Think About
The Pieman has sent his thoughts about Michael Amo's party change.
Here are three things about Michael Amo.
First of all, he is a pleasant and intelligent fellow. I find him to be quite likeable - off the floor of the County Legislature.
Secondly, he is quite open about who his constituency is. It's not the people of his district - which is made up primarily of Kiryas Joel, with a little bit of Highland Mills and Harriman thrown in. It is not the people of Kiryas Joel (with those Highland Mills and Harriman people thrown out). He has a constituency of one - Gedalye Szegedin - the Village Administrator of KJ (a made up title that indicates that he out-ranks Mayor Abe Weider). What Gedalye wants to have happen in the County Legislature, Michael Amo wants to have happen.
Thirdly, by leaving the Republican party to become an independent, Michael Amo has now situated himself to be one of the most powerful people in the Legislature. His change of party means that the Leg. now has 20 Republicans, 20 Democrats and one Amo. He is now the swing vote, which puts him in the best possible position to horse-trade.
Up until four years ago, the folks who ran KJ got what they asked for from the Leg., but starting with the vote asking NYC to drop the offer of a KJ Pipeline to the City's water system- a vote that KJ lost 20 to 1- Gedalye Szegedin has lost one important vote after another.
- He lost when the county voted to bring an Article 78 law suit against the pipeline environmental impact filing.
- He lost when the county voted against the Gonzaga water towers.
- He lost when he was forced to put work on hold laying a pipe across the Heritage Trail until the Physical Services Committee was ready to decide on granting an easement.
- He lost when he asked that the Village be handed the middle of County Route 44.
But now he has Michael Amo's new status as the swing vote. And that might just change everything.
If Monroe elects Greg Townsend to the seat he was handed when Spencer McLaughlin died the Legislature will continue to be split 10 to 10 to 1.
However, if Myrna Kemnitz gets the seat, the Democrats will hold a solid majority (11 to 9 to 1). Michael Amo's leverage as the swing vote will evaporate.
Something for Monroe voters to think about.
Here are three things about Michael Amo.
First of all, he is a pleasant and intelligent fellow. I find him to be quite likeable - off the floor of the County Legislature.
Secondly, he is quite open about who his constituency is. It's not the people of his district - which is made up primarily of Kiryas Joel, with a little bit of Highland Mills and Harriman thrown in. It is not the people of Kiryas Joel (with those Highland Mills and Harriman people thrown out). He has a constituency of one - Gedalye Szegedin - the Village Administrator of KJ (a made up title that indicates that he out-ranks Mayor Abe Weider). What Gedalye wants to have happen in the County Legislature, Michael Amo wants to have happen.
Thirdly, by leaving the Republican party to become an independent, Michael Amo has now situated himself to be one of the most powerful people in the Legislature. His change of party means that the Leg. now has 20 Republicans, 20 Democrats and one Amo. He is now the swing vote, which puts him in the best possible position to horse-trade.
Up until four years ago, the folks who ran KJ got what they asked for from the Leg., but starting with the vote asking NYC to drop the offer of a KJ Pipeline to the City's water system- a vote that KJ lost 20 to 1- Gedalye Szegedin has lost one important vote after another.
- He lost when the county voted to bring an Article 78 law suit against the pipeline environmental impact filing.
- He lost when the county voted against the Gonzaga water towers.
- He lost when he was forced to put work on hold laying a pipe across the Heritage Trail until the Physical Services Committee was ready to decide on granting an easement.
- He lost when he asked that the Village be handed the middle of County Route 44.
But now he has Michael Amo's new status as the swing vote. And that might just change everything.
If Monroe elects Greg Townsend to the seat he was handed when Spencer McLaughlin died the Legislature will continue to be split 10 to 10 to 1.
However, if Myrna Kemnitz gets the seat, the Democrats will hold a solid majority (11 to 9 to 1). Michael Amo's leverage as the swing vote will evaporate.
Something for Monroe voters to think about.
Jonathan Swiller
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)