Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Larkin and DeProspo Play With Guns

The story as we understand it (corrections and clarifications welcome).

Orange County Republican Chairman Bill DeProspo pops up at an unrelated political event one year ago and announces that the Newburgh police and the County Sheriff's Deprtment will start using PistolCams (gun mounted cameras) and that State Senator Bill Larkin has gotten the funds to pay for them.

Within hours crack reporter Sean Hannity has gotten hold of the story and it makes nationwide news.

Only problems are-

The Newburgh police aren't qite that ready to sign on -
The Sheriff had only expressed a possible interest in a very limited test of a few of the rifle versions-
Larkin's grant was written in such a way that only one, single manufacturer could qualify-
and
-Surprise-
Bill DeProspo is being paid by that one, single manufacturer.

The County Leg has now said no to the pistolCam Grant to Nowhere, but DeProspo still got what he wanted -
Nationwide press claiming (erroneously) that the Orange County Sheriff's Deopartment has, in effect, endorsed the contraption.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

MORE EVIDENCE THAT KJ AND THEIR OFFICIALS DO WHATEVER THEY DAMN WELL PLEASE!!!

Orange County, Kiryas Joel at odds again. Officials say village built walkway without permission

By Chris Mckenna
Times Herald-Record
October 17, 2008
KIRYAS JOEL — For families in the new condos on a hillside above County Route 44, the wooden walkway just erected beside the busy thoroughfare offered a safe path they had long craved.

But the new sidewalk has ignited yet another conflict with Orange County officials and struck critics of Kiryas Joel's leaders as the latest instance of their acting first and seeking permission later, even when county property is involved.

The issue erupted Wednesday when county officials discovered the elevated boardwalk and immediately shut down the road, declaring that the work had been done without county approval and had destabilized the guardrail. Concrete barriers now block off that section, forcing drivers to detour through Kiryas Joel as they head between Monroe and Woodbury. On Thursday, county officials ordered Kiryas Joel to remove the walkway and shore up 500 feet of the guardrail before Monday, or face $1,000 a day in fines.

"It's very loose; it's very wobbly," County Executive Ed Diana said of the metal railing on Thursday. "If a vehicle were to hit that, it would go well into that walkway."

The reaction in Kiryas Joel was one of dismay. Moses Witriol, the village's public safety director, fumed that village officials had gotten no warning about the closing and now had to contend with navigating ambulances and fire trucks around a blocked artery.

Why, he and others in the Hasidic community asked, was the county suddenly concerned about Route 44 safety when their leaders have complained for years about the need for sidewalks? One young couple, stopped at the barriers with 2-year-old twin boys and a 4-month-old baby in their minivan, voiced exasperation with the perils of pushing a double stroller along the narrow shoulder as vehicles whizz past.

"What should my wife do when a truck is coming from one side and a bus is coming from the other?" asked the father, who declined to give his name. "Call the EMTs right away, or wait to see what happens?"

Several years ago, village officials began pushing to take possession of their section of the county-owned road and use grant money to widen the road and install sidewalks. County lawmakers ultimately refused to cede ownership but supported the project and offered Kiryas Joel an easement to do the work.

It was unclear Thursday what became of that offer. Witriol said the boardwalk was temporary — built in the midst of a pedestrian-heavy holiday season — and was on private property, not the county's right-of-way.

"Even if that's true, there are certain guidelines that have to be met," Diana replied, adding that the village would likely have gotten a county permit if it had sought one.

Anonymous said...

Vote out the bums!!

Anonymous said...

OBAMA 08!

Anonymous said...

Vote out Burke!

Anonymous said...

Vote out Queenen

Anonymous said...

Vote out Bo!

Anonymous said...

Vote out Gerri!!

Anonymous said...

Vote out Levine!

Anonymous said...

Vote out Mcneil! wait already did that!

Anonymous said...

I love this crap!

Anonymous said...

YEA, ALL DAY LONG WATCHING AND WAITING TO COMMENT ON THIS CRAPPY SITE!

Anonymous said...

love wasting space!

Anonymous said...

Larkin = Ralph!!

Anonymous said...

VOTE OUT LARKIN!

Anonymous said...

Vote out the government as a whole. There, saved some space!

Anonymous said...

Oh yes, vote out all of the elected officials, even the good ones, because anarchy always works!!!

Anonymous said...

It took you six days to say that?? Boy, I bet your head hurts from all that thinking. Why don't you take the rest of the year off to recharge your batteries.