Audit requested for Kiryas Joel’s $10.5M center
By Chris Mckenna
September 11, 2008 6:00 AM
BLOOMING GROVE — Assemblywoman Nancy Calhoun announced Wednesday that she has asked the state comptroller and attorney general to investigate a Kiryas Joel building project that has gotten $10.5 million in state and federal grants.
The Blooming Grove Republican wants the two Democratic officials to audit the project to see if the funds were properly spent. She released copies of her identical letters to Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, both dated Aug. 25. Her request follows a Times Herald-Record story July 20 that reported on the project that got no-strings-attached state grants. Village officials estimated the project would cost $3.5 million and be finished by 2004 when they applied for their first state grant in 2001. The cost has since ballooned to $11.4 million, paid for largely with discretionary grants from then-Gov. Pataki and other allies.
81 comments:
Way to go Nancy! We need to support Nancy like she supports us! WE certainly don't need another political whore like Randazzo- having Uncle Bill is one too many already!
KJ does what it wants with tax money,
and the politicos give them the monetary honey,
but until we have changed,
a law (RLUIPA)that's deranged,
we have an unfair situation that's not funny!!!
I am sick and tired of working 2 jobs so I can stay above water.
I am sick and tired of seeing how much I pay to taxes.
I am disgusted by anyone who knowingly finds the loop holes in the tax system and not only rip off and burdens their neighbors,but with the help of low life politicans , rape us.
Wake up people,let them know.
WE ARE SICK AND TIRED.
the polititions dont care about you...there is only one of you, and 20 thousand of them.
No, your wrong. There are alot more of us (sick & tired).
But when it comes to voting.
We are lazy f***'s
1 error not mayor
The message to Mr. Burke should not have appeared on this blog. It has nothing to do with Town or Village politics, and whatever a grown son does is done as an adult. Parents do not control their adult children. This was a low, nasty comment that should have been removed. Personal agendas don't belong here.
Sorry that it took so long to get rid of that post. It had no place here.
The good news is that we expect the Uncle back soon and that vigilence will increase with him at the helm.
I'm glad you guys removed it. There is enough to hold John Burke responsible for without geting into the dirt.
true, we have much to hold Burke accountable for.
Has anyone heard the rumblings of the new drive to get rid of the village? Look at todays thr
Quite right! Mr. Moomey is very familiar with petitions. He signed the petition to create the Village of Woodbury on 5/17/04. It was carried and witnessed by none other than John Burke and notarized by Karen McCormick Queenan.
Can't understand why their is such a secret undercurrent to get rid of the Village. It is the TOWN that is costing so much. It behooves all of us to show up at the Town's budget meetings and question WHY, when they're doing less are they charging us more??? And why have all the board members' and the supervisor's salaries INCREASED when they in fact ARE doing less?? And, for all of you now crying foul about the Village, including you Mr. Moomey, why didn't you do your homework BEFORE signing the petition? Why aren't you calling Caruso, Burke, Queenan and all those fear mongerers to task over the panic and hysteria they caused?? No, instead you want to go after the decent people who stepped up to the plate to run the Village. Perhaps you should all take a good look in the mirror and realize that YOU, and YOU alone are responsible for allowing Ralph and company to flush Woodbury down the toilet.
So, now that rumour has it that those same morons (and some of their slick little gophers who "think" they're acting anonymously)are going to try to dissolve the Village, lets see if YOU all will act just as foolishly the second time around. Hopefully you'll look at who is behind the alleged petition to dissolve the Village and finally REALIZE that those people CANNOT and SHOULD NOT be trusted...EVER!!
village is going down
randazzo is going to beat calhoun
any questions?
In your dreams....
I do not have a beef with the village officials, just the village creation itself.
Why do the village officials take this so personally?
Why attack the town board?
The town still has many functions including highway, police, parks, unions etc.
Don't be so bitter and jealous. Stop pointing the finger at people. I am sure the town and village work hard at their seperate roles and everyone deserves to be paid for it.
Who says it is the village officials attacking the town officials?
It's obvious...
I think most people have no problem with the village board members, just the village as a whole. I did not vote for a village and quite frankly wish it gone. It was a bad idea and continues to be a thorn in the taxpayers side.
We can not eliminate the town (it has to exhisit)but the village serves no purpose whatsoever so lets get rid it.
Again both boards have their jobs and should be paid to do their jobs until the village is disolved.
Take a look at the village of KJ
If we did'nt have a "VILLAGE" Surpi Dr and The Junction (JK) accross from the H.S. could be the next KJ. And please, the people in Kj are fine. It's the apartment buildings, the dumping, and the litter I have a problem with. It's all about ZONING,
NOT ANNEXATION. "Only the courts" can decide annexation. BUT YOU KNOW ALL THIS.
The ONLY thing Ralph Caruso, John Burke, Mike Queenan and their band of followers were correct on is that currently a Village can't be formed WITHIN another Village.
To the poster of "Don't be so bitter and jealous. Stop pointing the finger at people. I am sure the town and village work hard at their seperate roles and everyone deserves to be paid for it." Are you telling me that the Town Supervisor and the Town Bd members DESERVE to be paid even MORE for their roles, eventhough several of their departments are now with the Village? How does that make any sense at all? Perhaps if they decreased their salaries,budget and taxes in accordance with what is being transferred to the Village, then all would even out, we wouldn't being paing anything additional and the two could co-exist??
You can't put Mike Queenan in with the rest of these village goers.
I do not know what rock you live under. Although Mike Q originally supported the village he later wrote a letter with great concerns over the village formation and urged people due to a financial burden not support the village.
Did YOU write a letter opposing the village? Did you publicly condemn the village and urge people not to vote in favor of it?
I give Queenan alot of credit for doing so while a member of the town board.
The only other board member who spoke about the village was John B and we all know he was in favor of it.
BTW where is the letter written by Mr Moomey. I looked in the paper and didn't see it. Could somebody post it on Uncle Betty?
It's a "My View"- go to recordonline.com, click on the OPINION dropdown list and click on My View.
Queenan shifts with the wind. He'll be on whichever side benefits him more on any given day. Prime example, he seems to be for the builders now that he is in Real Estate. Pay close attention to how many times he's shifted his views and allegiances.
Queenan Letter to the Editor
Photo News August 4, 2006
Best intentions will end disastrously
To the editor:
When I first started the Village of Woodbury petition, I believed it was a good idea to help protect the zoning and character of our town. That was two years ago and I’ve been agonizing over whether this decision is truly in the town’s best interest.
It was and still is difficult to anticipate all the unknown variables that the Town/Village will encounter. This is a unique situation. In our case, the town and village would be one in the same with the exception of the Village of Harriman.
My major concern is the unpredictable tax burden that may impact the residents of Woodbury. I believe that the legal fees due to the transition will be significant. The town government will still exist. There will be a town attorney and a village attorney. There will be ongoing legal fees for interpretations on issues that arise for and between the town and village.
There also is the possibility of double the lawsuits and liability. A village government will require facilities and personnel which will result in additional taxes.
Many endeavors in government start out with the best intentions and end up in a disastrous state. Human nature being what it is, I have no confidence in the harmonious co-existence of two governments. The duplication of effort, expense and difficulty of coordinating the two governing bodies and services, would negate any benefit of village incorporation. Additionally, technicalities in village law may bring about unintended results (i.e. dissolving of the Woodbury Fire District).
On the surface the village may seem like a good idea, but once you start to dissect it, you begin to realize the negatives far exceed the one positive. The bottom line is that the co-existence of two governments will be problematic and costly and of no real benefit.
Proof is in the pudding and I was right about the letter Mike Q wrote to the paper. He was opposed to the village formation and for good reason. Everything he stated in his letter has come true.
Previous poster said:
"Queenan shifts with the wind. He'll be on whichever side benefits him more on any given day. Prime example, he seems to be for the builders now that he is in Real Estate. Pay close attention to how many times he's shifted his views and allegiances."
I hate to say this because it is repetitive, but that "He seems to be for the builders now.." is a typical Ralph thing to say.
I agree. If someone does not agree with the Ralphlings automatically thet are with the builder. They accuse people of taking money, bribes and even stooping as low as sex! It's really shameful when you think about it.
Good people reputations are at stake and they had better stop. I don't think most people would believe what people like Don Siebold and Co have to say.
I agree that Queenan's decisions need to be watched carefully so that there is NO conflict of interest, being that he is a realtor in Woodbury AND has the power to effect/change development in Woodbury to a certain degree.
Why did Queenan wait until ONE WEEK prior to the Village vote to absolve himself? If he truly "agonized" over it, why not get the letter out early and make damn sure that the rhetoric that he helped spread two years earlier was corrected? A little bit too Johnny-come-lately for my liking.
Mike Queenan is a realtor??? Hmmmmmm.
Mike Queenan is a realtor, Mmm, Mike Aronwitz left town, Mmmmm!!!!!!
Yes Mike Q is a realtor, so what he is a stand up guy and does what is right for the town. If you have facts show them. Mike A left for a better job; I am sure many of you would stay here and turn down more money. Get real if either mike’s did something wrong prove it.
Both Mikes seem to be wishy-washy until they figure out what benefits THEM the most.
Please explain how the benefited?
benefited politically. i see that you are kissing their asses.
Benifited politically?!?!
Oh yes that town board job is so desirable.
Pure conflict of interest= a person who has the power to decide a zoning change AND benefit from a zoning change by making money on the sale of those homes.
Not saying that Mr. Queenan has done that, but the possibility certainly exists. I'd say the same thing for anyone on the Village board as well. People wanted Mr. DiFalco off the ZBA for the very same reason. At the very least, Mr. Queenan should recuse himself from votes that concern real estate matters, in order to remove any possible conflict. That way he really would be showing that he's a "stand up guy"!
There is no possibility of Mike Q making zoning changes because that is not a town function.
The town also does not oversee any bulding requests because that has been taken over by the village also.
The planning and zoning board of appeals is all under the village. The town doesn't even have a planner.
Please stop with all your back ass assumptions. YOU HAVE NOOOOO IDEA WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT.
By the reasoning of the previous posters, all real estate agents are evil and NO ONE who conducts business in the town should be allowed to be on the town board.
How stupid is that?
I heard that Brodsky was back before the Town board and the Planning Board, so how can you say that the Town Board has no input??? I think the previous poster was accurate in that anyone who is a real estate broker should not sit on any Town/Village/Planning or Zoning boards. Wasn't there a big outcry for DiFalco to be booted from one of the boards when he was trying to get Apple Hill Estates passed? Why is that any different for Queenan? And, I don't wee where he was referred to as "evil", only that the possibility of conflict exists. Maybe he doesn't need to be removed, but should certainly recuse himself in those matters as the poster suggested.
So let me get this straight. It's ok for Queenan to change his mind, but it's not ok for Moomey to change his. So everyone should stick to their guns even if they later learn that they may have made a mistake. Maybe the mistake was in voting for the village, but the bigger mistake may have been voting for a village board that was against the village. And I still find absolutely nothing in any literature of any party or team that said that creating a village would prevent annexation. The bottom line is, don't crucify people because they change their minds. They probably are more forward thinking than those who stubbornly cling to their views despite evidence to the contrary.
"Maybe the mistake was in voting for the village, but the bigger mistake may have been voting for a village board that was against the village." Are you kidding me???
Had Caruso & Co gotten in, we'd be in one hell of a jam- remember Caruso was the one who so stubbornly stuck to the notion that the fire district DID not have to be dissolved, and he was 1000% WRONG. He was the leader of the whole mass hysteria that created the damn Village in the first place, and you think he should be running it? You're out of your mind!
Why is Brodsky back in front of the town and planning boards?
I don't know, but it's probably Caruso's fault.
Gee, There is finally someone who states they have reviewed all the literature for BOTH SIDES and NO WHERE can they find that either group thought annexation could be prevented by forming a village!!!! That was all mr swillers SMOKE AND MIRRORS. "CREATING A VILLAGE PRESERVED & PROTECTED ZONING." For example, three villages in Woodbury would mean 3 zoning codes. So, some of the zoning codes could be simular to KJ. Or maybe simular to NYC. Zoning codes would be at the discreation of the village board. Hey, maybe if we had 3 villages in Woodbury, we would have the first skyscapper in Orange County paid for by your tax dollars or maybe we would have a village with all SECTION 8 APARTMENTS. The POSSIBLITIES are
endless. The village is a good thing. We need to find a mayor who is competent and beleives in what their doing.
Our village tax bills are just "lawyers fees" passed on to us by a board who never wanted a village.
Woodburys fire department is alive and well and doing a GREAT JOB!
maybe if we had 2,3 or 4 villages , 1 or 2 of then might opt for the state police to patrol their village and not have to contract with the town for their police services..They would save plenty of tax dollars that way. If that hapened the other villages who want the town of Woodbury PD to serve them would have to pay for the whole cost of the Police budget and one of two things would happen . a) their taxes would be dramatically increased, as the current police budget is over 2 million dollars per year or b) the police dept would have to be downsized...Watch out what you wish for !!The devil you know is better than the devil you don't . !!
So, what you're saying is that you all still think that this whole crazy Village idea would be working just wonderfully if the king himself, Ralphieboy was running it? FYI- the current board is doing a fine job.
With Ralph and his dumplings on board, your taxes would have gone through the roof because of the sheer # of lawsuits he would have brought upon us due to his lack of intelligence and thoroughness. Remember, HE is the one that only told the voters what HE felt they needed to know, which was nothing more than a crock of @#$&!!! His so-called "budget" was useless, much like he and his board would have been.
I just can't seem to understand why, when they're doing less, hasn't the TOWN board's salaries and their budget been reduced? Why are there only a few screaming about that?? Can any of you offer a plausible answer to that question??
"I just can't seem to understand why, when they're doing less, hasn't the TOWN board's salaries and their budget been reduced? Why are there only a few screaming about that?? Can any of you offer a plausible answer to that question??"
Firstly the town board budget last year was reduced by a little over 2million dollars. Almost the same amount the village raised their budget. (Again you do not know what you are talking about)
You are just trying to stir up trouble. The masses aren't up in arms because they see that the town board still oversees all the major departments etc as a previous poster pointed out.
Get a life and realize both the town and village boards are grossly underpaid for the time and abuse they take.
Why did the Town Board's salaries go up?
What did they "go up" by.
If they were slobs who gave themselves big raises , then shame on them.
On the other hand if they gave themselves a cost of living raise or less.. then what is the issue?
If they still have alot of work that their doing then I agree with a previous poster that they need to be paid and continue to be paid.
It sounds like they have lowered their budget by almost the same amount that the village raised theirs.
What is your agenda?
Don't like Burke?
Look at Monroe as an example of what would happen if Woodbury residents did nothing. Inflating a budget is an excellent way to upset struggling tax payers. Let’s stop arguing amongst ourselves and investigate who benefits if the village is dissolved. I suspect you will find KJ fueling the discontent. KJ now controls both parties in Monroe is that what you want for Woodbury? I don’t know the adversaries so I can't comment on motive, but I called Sen. Larkin’s office a few years ago and spoke with Ralph Caruso. In my humble option anyone associated with Larkin is suspect. It doesn’t take much to corrupt an official. Monroe’s board is paid less than $10,000. A year Plus tips. Why not get Nancy's opinion.
Over the last few years many of us in the working sector have been asked to do more for less. Wage freezes are nothing new, so why not for the Town Board as well, or better yet, take NO pay like some of the Village board members...now that is what I would really call being a PUBLIC SERVANT!
BTW- no gripe with Burke, just agree that in these times, especially now, they should not have taken any increase.
Here what’s wrong with being a “PUBLIC SERVANT” you want them to work for free are you kidding me. If you looked at the amount of hours a board member works it comes out to less then minimum wage. They spend endless hours away from their families; go to one meeting after another along with reading countless documents. Get no health benefits and spend their own money on elections. Yes they got 2% more then nothing, (really less then $8,000) please let a life you get what you pay for.
Why is Brodsky back to the planning board? Can someone answer that question?
First off only a few village board members do not take a salary and they are fools.
Nobody should work for free. I agree we get what we pay for and furthermore who do some board members think they are fooling by denying they are political. THEY ALL ARE!!! So what, it's the nature of the job.
Get a grip and admit it.
Still curious why Brodsky is back to the Planning Board. I heard he is bankrupt.
Instead of running out of water, he ran out of money! Maybe he can ask Wayne Boy for a loan or what about Dennis, Stew, or Sheila! Oh no, he should ask Iris or Mindy! Maybe Mr. Mooney wants more then fair market value for his house he wants to sell. Who needs a village when you get more then fair market value!!! Plenty of cash in Woodbury.
Brodsky is asking for some changes to his plot locations. Seems that he built his houses outside of the intended locations.
Is he trying to squeeze in a couple of extra houses like he did in Brigadoon? There is more to this story then meets the eye.
Brodsky is not getting any more houses.
HE'S GETTING SOMETHING
He is getting your first born child to sacrifice to the developer gods in order to appease them. They are displease with him because he gave the town so much open space and other concessions.
Then and only then will those gods smile on him and curse Ralph
So much unbuildable open space. What a Guy!! What till you hear about The Junction Bailout!
Wait till you hear about the bailout of the mentally deficient!!!!
When intelligent people die, we are going to remove their brains and transplant them into people like you. Anything would be better than what you are using now!!!
Wait till you hear about the bailout of the mentally deficient!!!!
When intelligent people die, we are going to remove their brains and transplant them into people like you. Anything would be better than what you are using now!!!
Yeah, you're brilliant. You posted the same thing twice. And from your language, I take it that you do not consider yourself one of the intelligent. Bailouts help the stupid people at the expense of the intelligent ones. If stupid people hadn't been enabled by stupid businesses and government agencies, our country wouldn't be in the mess it's in now.
Hey if you're so brilliant, how come you don't understand the bail-out process?
Why should I or anyone bail out wallstreet, and all these multi-millionaires because of THEIR own stupidity and greed! The people that are going to suffer for this is me and you. If the government was so concerned about the middle class people, they could give every American over the age of 18, 500,000.00, and then tax it. That would leave each person with about 325,000.00. And that would still be less than the proposed bail out. With that money Americans can pay their mortage, buy new cars, purchase new homes, and the economy would boom because of it. So bailing out a few billionairs at our expense doesn't make much sense to me.
What's the difference if we let Brodsky put 450 Homes instead of a 140 homes. Isn't it all about the money and a bail out. Ask the prior Town Board who lobbied all over town for Brodsky. He apparently wouldn't make enough money with so few homes. GREED! It's always about the money.
Uncle Betty knows nothing! I think the uncle lives in a seasonal dwelling which he occupies all year round illegally. And betty is so full SHI_ that she got booted of office only to appear on some other village board.
Thats a good one Don. Your such a jerk!
Sour grapes Don???
There once was a man named Don
who tried to pull a big con,
he huffed and he puffed,
and then he got stuffed,
and he is definitely not "right-on"!!
Yes and the old town board members are hiding all their bribes under their mattress for a rainey day.
Those greedy bastards. Of course they gave Brodsky more homes so that they could profit also. Look at them...
Sheila drives a two seater BMW the sporty type that can go up to 120 miles an hour in 2 seconds
Gerri now lives in a mansion overlooking the sea
Lorraine quit her job and just lives off her profits which she has wisely invested in the stock market
Mike Q owns his own reality and sells homes only from Woodbury Junction ( boy are they selling like hotcakes!)
Colleen Campbell had to skip town to aviod being found out.
Last but not least Mike A.. he got nothing because he was found to be a turncoat so he was forced to flee to that horrible state of Florida where he can live behind his curtains in fear that someone from Woodbury will find him and torture him until he tells the truth.
So there you have it.
Silly Silly Uncle Betty. It's not Don!! It could be Charlie Brown!!! So is it true, the group that got in was not in favor of a village? Then why want to run it? It's all about the purse strings. How much did the lawyer get paid? What was the big change in the Fire Department except the money!
Everyone knows that the current VB members were not in favor of the village. That was never a secret. What I find very funny is that the very people who lied about needing the village, and pushed for it, weren't even able to get one of its own people (RALPH and Co.)on the board. People were stupid enough to believe what Ralph and Don and the rest of the peanut gallery was telling them, but werenn't dumb enough to put them in charge. I hope all you sheep remember all that Ralph has done in the past, and vote for anyone but his followers. As far as Charlie (Don) Brown is concerned, Don you picked a perfect name for yourself. Except it should be Charile Brown-nose.
As long as we're discussing voting-let's remember NOT to vote for Richard Randazzo- better known as DICK! Ya he's the guy who has backed 2 lawsuits against Woodbury-one against the Town and one against the Village, then has the nerve to set foot in Woodbury and ask us for our votes. Hey DICK- your opponent, Nancy Calhoun has done more to protect Woodbury than you or Uncle Bill Larkin will EVER do- and speaking of Billy Boy, let's all band together to send him packing too! VOTE CALHOUN & DELAROSE!!!
The town and village deserved to be sued for their horrendous decisions on WP3 and Legacy Ridge!
You're entitled to your opinion, however keep in mind that after the first decision came down, the second vote by the Town Board on WP3 resulted the same as the first, so the lawsuit did diddly but waste time and money. Since the Village Board followed every rule and even went beyond what was required by SEQRA and/or law, chances are the second lawsuit will also be a waste of everyones' time and money. But, far be it from me to tell you. All I know is that it sucks when not only our own municipality has their hands in our overburdened taxpaying pockets, but a Supervisor from another TOWN has his hands in there as well. Dick needs to keep himself in Cornwall and his nose out of Woodbury's business!
what a bunch of bullsh-t!
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