Memorial Day

The Uncle never served in the US armed forces, and the uniform that I wore in my last job was covered with medals which I bestowed upon myself, yet I offer an opinion.

I have heard a great many speeches speaking of sacrifice, bravery, patriotism and honor and all of these things need to be said and repeated, but they are nowhere near enough.

When we should honor those who died in battle - instead we hide their coffins as they return to this country as though we were ashamed of them.

When we should give all possible care to those who served and who still live among us, instead we do far too little, far too slowly.

When we should be doing everything possible for those who are still in harm's way we have denied them body armor, we have denied them protective vehicles, we have denied them the psychological care they must have and, some of us, would deny them the fullest possible benefits.

The speeches are necessary, but if that is all we have to offer then we have failed those who never failed us.

A Conspiracy Theory

Uncle Billy Larkin doesn't much like Assemblywoman Nancy Calhoun.

Woodbury Republican Committee Chairman Ralph Caruso, Uncle Billy's left-hand-man, tried to keep the Committee from endorsing Nancy.

Ralph and former Cornwall Supervisor Richard Randazzo worked together to sue Woodbury over the WP3 (Woodbury Junction) project.

Randazzo is running against Nancy for her Assembly seat.

Anthony Incanno is fronting for the current push to get the Town of Cornwall, the Village of Cornwall On Hudson and the Cornwall Central School District Board of Education to sue Woodbury over the Legacy Ridge project.

Incanno cannot form a coherent sentence so it is obvious that someone is writing his letters to the Cornwall Local.

That letter writer has repeatedly referred to and quoted the obscure writings of Ralph Caruso.

Randazzo and Caruso are nowhere to be seen.

Anyone smell something fishy?

The Pieman Is Looking For A Few Tough Women

At least that what he tells us.

Why?

Go know. He's not saying.

All that he does say is that if you are female and are interested in bringing honest elections to Orange County you should email him at jswiller@optonline.net or call 845-928-9273.

The Uncle thinks he's just looking for a date, but when asked that very question, the Pieman says no.

On second thought, it's sort of hard picturing him on a date, what would he talk about? Petitions and pipelines? Annexation and lying politicians?

Neh. Sweet talk doesn't seem to be his style.

Give him a call and find out.

Ye Gads. That Evil Pieman

Anthony Incanno, the Honest Abe of Cornwall, has certainly put it to the Pieman.

Here's what he wrote to the Cornwall Lowball:

We have read with amusement Mr. Jonathan Swiller's letters to The Cornwall Local. Mr. Swiller knows a lot more than he would have us believe! Quite frankly, sir, we have no interest in your 2004 agitation as SOCA leader. That sir is a personal matter between you and Kiryas Joel. Cornwall schools and taxation without representation of the district population is our business.

"I am agitating for an honest debate" you wrote. Please tell us how many meetings of the Cornwall Town Board and BOE did you attend to participate in an honest debate? Fear mongering, you say. Please read the Times Herald-Record My View, dated 7/29/05. The story headline reads "Who's fooling whom on Woodbury housing projects?" The article describes threats and hints of blackmailings if housing projects are derailed but you, sir, are very familiar with that article, are you not?

He certainly did his research and he knows that's there was an article in the Record that accused the Pieman of making threats and hinting at blackmail (or blackmailings). Wow.

Let's take a look at this expose he found:

Who's fooling whom on Woodbury housing projects?
By Ralph Caruso
In an article printed June 19, two large proposed housing developments for the Town of Woodbury are discussed. The developer, Bill Brodsky, believes the town should ensure that he turns a profit for his private business venture of developing property and building homes. He also wants a zoning change to high density housing to make his property more valuable, so it will command a higher selling price.
Just think, he purchased the 178 acres for $3.5 million, or almost $20,000 per acre, and has a contract for an additional 220 acres to be added to the 178 to make up the entire parcel to be built on. Based on the purchase price of the 178 acres, if the 220 acres sells for $20,000 per acre then the 220 acres would cost $4.3 million dollars. The total cost of both properties would be about $7.8 million. If the zoning change is approved, it would add 276 homes to be built on the combined properties across from the Monroe Woodbury High School. It seems easy enough to estimate the increased value of this property, based on the increased number of proposed home sites, from 175 to 451, which relates to at least a 157 percent increase above the purchase price of about $7.8 million and about a $12.3 million profit. Add the profit to the purchase price and the property would be worth at least $20.1 million. Not a bad profit for what Mr. Brodsky calls a simple zoning change.
Mr. Brodsky is responsible to make his own business profitable, but the Town of Woodbury should not be assuring Mr. Brodsky and his business a larger profit. If so, they would be called promoters and/or business agents and it would be wrong. Elected officials are representatives of the residents of our community first and must not blur the line that separates private enterprise from government. Mr. Brodsky says he wants to develop the property, and at the same time threatens us with consequences if this project is derailed, followed by an insult to our intelligence by saying, "This is not blackmailing." There are no guarantees Mr. Brodsky will follow through with his proposals. Keep in mind, after the property is rezoned to high-density housing, Mr. Brodsky would realize at the least a $12.3 million profit by selling. Keep in mind Ace Farm, 140 acres, which abuts the property Mr. Brodsky has proposed for a zoning change, sold last year for $12.7 million, or about $90,700 per acre.
The numbers point to potentially a great deal of money to be made by Mr. Brodsky if he gets the zoning change he is demanding. No one can predict the actual selling price at this time; however, it's clear it would be significant.
Mr. Brodsky purchased this property knowing that it is only zoned to build, at the most, 175 homes. It takes a lot of nerve for this developer to attempt to intimidate the officials and residents of our community because he wants to build more homes than are permitted.
Mr. Brodsky must not be allowed to tell our town officials and residents how our town should grow so that he can make a bigger profit.


Um, uh, wait a sec.

What does this have to do with Swiller?

Caruso (that paragon of honor) is attacking Brodsky (yet another paragon of honor).

But Swiller isn't mentioned anywhere.

No matter.

The readers of the Cornwall Lowball will obviously hunt through the archives of the Record and find that out for themselves, just as Mr. Incanno, no doubt, intends.

After all, it's not like he wants to fool anyone.

Uncle Billy Rides Again

Here he comes to save the day!

Uncle Bill has agreed to run for his 10th term as our NY State Senator.

Bless his heart!