Community

CURRENT ISSUES AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITY
LAKE LUCILLE - Residents are encouraged to maintain contact with the Lake Lucille Board - Mr. Barry Carl, President - whom with Ed has already met with and discussed the compelling issues you are facing. He has already commenced a series of meetings designed to address these concerns directly or to assist in any way via County intercession.
UPDATE: Ed is working with Senator Tom Morahan to secure that the promised $225,000 additional funding from the DEC will be released. That will reduce the outstanding debt of the Lake Lucille homeowner by about 50% !
Additionally, after months of frustration and stalled efforts within the legislature to identify and address the issues of external waterway influences on Lake Lucille, Ed put into place the beginnings of a working action committee of County, Town, and Lake Lucille residents, with the goal of creating a water management documentand to identify and move on waterway remediation as rapidly as possible.

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CONDOS AT HERITAGE DRIVE - There are ongoing discussions regarding the issue of drainage and flooding being conducted under the auspices of the Condo Board. Be assured that Ed has, and will continue to maintain contact and assist wherever possible. Again, Ed emphasizes that maintaining contact directly with your Board is imperative so you are kept up to date.
UPDATE: Ed has stood shoulder to shoulder with representatives of the New City Condos at various Town Board meetings affecting the Bradlees' Shopping Center proposal, nearby zoning issues, and attempting to reconfigure the New City Post Office parking lot, which due to the original poorly planned layout cannot be reversed now. However, Ed was able to get two 2008 capital projects established for North Main Street, one which will identify locations for mid lane medians and the other to establish actual crosswalks. He is also working with Town Councilman Frank Borrelli, the County, and State Senator Morahan to look to esatblish a traffic device where the Condo's and Post Office exits meet.
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NEW HEMPSTEAD ROAD CORRIDOR - Ed has already held discussions with the County Highway Department, the lead agency for the project. The actual configuration is finally taking shape, and the matter of an access road leading out of the County Complex is being addressed to ensure that residents are not unnecessarily impacted by that road. A meeting sponsored by Ed and Legislator Gerry Bierker will be scheduled shortly, with the primary focus on input the FROM AFFECTED RESIDENTS who reside in our respective districts in this area. The notice will be sent out by the County Highway Department, and Ed has made it clear that constituents should not be inconvenienced by traveling to Pomona as previously done. He fully expects the meeting to be held nearby within this community.
IMPORTANT NOTICE - The proposed Access Road has been formally WITHDRAWN by the County Executive on October 16th, and on a motion made by Ed, the full legislature unanimously voted to WITHDRAW the project from consideration.
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FAA AIR SPACE PLAN - Ed already has spoken out and voted against what he called an "air attack on the people of Rockland." He voted against this plan, and is attending public meetings to further voice his oppositon on behalf of this community. He has challenged ALL of our congressional representatives to do something more than issue press releases, but rather vote to hold off ANY FAA funding until a plan that respects this County is submitted. The fact is that our federal officials knew of this plan over a year ago and did NOTHING until former Legislator Pat Withers happened upon an FAA public meeting in New Jersey of all places where this plan was being presented. "The people moved to Rockland, not Cedarhurst Long Island, for a reason, one being some sense of tranquility devoid of aircraft a few thousand feet overhead", said Ed, adding that "I want our federal government officials to be pit bulls on this matter, bite and hold onto the leg of the FAA until they do the right thing."
The rallys held in Rockland are starting to get a lot of attention. Ed spoke at these events, again demanding assistance from our federally elected officials, and Congressman Engel has proposed limiting funding to the FAA until this matter is rectified.
And ... in response to a disappointing press release issued by Senator Schumer who suggested simply maintaining a 10,000 foot altitide over Rockland, but let the 600 planes a day come anyway, Ed repeated his demand that effective work, not lip service be done by our representatives in Congress. The fact is that this "idea", if overlaid on the alleged need to bring aircraft over the area, would result in "dive bomber" approaches by commercial aircraft. Silly and not helpful.
Ed is not going to let this issue die, as he acknowledged Congressman Engel and called upon Senator Schumer to be less visible in the papers and more helpful in the Senate when he spoke to this issue again at a legislative meeting.
UPDATE: The amendment, which passed unanimously and was offered by Congressman Engel, would require the General Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, to compare the effectiveness of the FAA's plan with other plans to relieve air travel delays. This strategy may have serious merit. In addition, the entire matter is now pending review for a hearing by the U.S. Supreme Court.
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MTA
From his first year as your legislator, Ed has been on the forefront of the fight to get us fair value for the millions of dollars we convey for the meager services the MTA provides to Rockland. Hearings, threats, cajoling, all with to avail. The MTA response? Marginal service at five stations AND the latest insult– A “Mobility” payroll tax on all levels of government, business, and schools. Who pays? We ALL do — through higher taxes and consumer costs stimated as an 8% increase in our cost of living here!
Ed felt that enough was enough, and to that end he introduced successful legislation now pending in Albany to allow us to withdraw from the MTA. The “value gap”, the amount we pay over and above service received, is now at $60 million, an amount that unbelievably exceeds the ENTIRE amount of ALL County property tax collected. It is time we consider withdrawal; look at contracting directly for services in order to both maintain a public transportation component and get fair value for your hard earned tax dollars.

The MTA math? ONLY 1% of Rocklanders using five stations + unremarkable service= $60 million! I don’t think so, and Ed hopes you agree. This made zero sense in good times, and with challenges we are all facing in these tight fiscal times, we can no longer afford to be treated like the proverbial stepchild with a bank account.

COUNTY CONTRACTS - Since coming into the legislature, Ed has questioned a number of "routine" matters where contracts supported by your tax dollars were being proferred. Examples included a 3 million dollar transporation contract for handicapped children, and the other a 125 thousand dollar contract for pre-school intervention programs. Sounds like laudatory matters, but Ed's review revealed that NINE companies accepted the bid paperwork for the 3 million dollar contract, but only ONE submitted a bid ... Essentially, a "formality" that lacked something very important in bid work ... Any comparison to establish best value.

The other contract? Well, Ed took the time to attempt to find out about the company. There was only one problem; The paperwork submitted to the legislature only had a name on it. Ed queried numerous databases and NOT ONE produced this company name.

Ed formally requested that the Department of Purchasing survey the eight companies that did not bid for one simple, businesslike reason; Ensuring the integrity of the process and the expenditure of taxpayers money. One would think that government would like to know exactly why only one company is bidding on a job. He also formally requested full information on the company that was listed in "name only" on the legislatures' paperwork.
Ed also questioned a request to cover a cost overrun came, and he immediately saw a potential shortcoming. It appears that the County may have been less than aggressive in exactly what was expected of the vendor, Verizon. Ed questioned the scope of work, expected time line for said work, and potential redress from the vendor as opposed to going to the taxpayers pockets.
UPDATE: County Purchasing is now routinely surveying bid processes that return only a single bid. In one incident where there was an inference that the County may be the victim of a bidding scheme, Ed was one of only three legislators who voted against the contract.
Ed also requested a recapitulation of exactly what language and detail is contained in agreements with vendors who do business with the County.

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BRADLEES SHOPPING CENTER DEVELOPMENT - Ed attended the initial presentation last month, and largely due to the good work of some very dedicated town officials, the early application looks very promising. But much more work needs to be done. As your Legislator, Ed wants YOU to hear the details and get YOUR input. After that, he want to see this get done. Ed encourages his neighbors to make their own judgments and not be swayed by others with their own agendas. As he promised during his campaign, Ed will make every effort to attend these and other critical meetings at the Town level.
UPDATE: Believe it or not, it has been announced that ALL site plan approvals have been accomplished by the various Town Boards, and the developer has commenced demolition ! Ed thanks all those citizens who joined him at the numerous Town meetings that helped to get this project off the boards and continue the effort to revitalize and beautify our community.
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"WHITE GATE" PROPERTY ( West side, Route 304 opposite Davies' Farm) - Ed attended a meeting sponsored by concerned citizens @ the Town Hall Auditorium. There has been a lot of dialogue, some of it seemingly a bit confrontational, about the future of this 22 acre parcel in North New City. Residents have reported that the developer has indicated that if he does not get the development he desires, he will make application for a trailer park, car wash, and storage facility. Residents are urged to attend, and Ed will be there to ensure the residents of his District are both heard and treated fairly.
UPDATE: The development that was "threatened" fell hard at that meeting, once Ed informed the applicant that ANY proposal must also go to the County Planning Department for approval, where Ed assured him that it would be reviewed appropriately by both Planning and your Legislator ! Already, we are seeing more good news, as a respected local builder, CalMart Enterprises, has secured 5 acres for their new offices
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PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN -  Ed is proud of both his long involvement in teaching our children about the tools necessary to maintain their own personal safety and having been the primary sponsor of a law establishing “Sex Offender Free Zones”, a statute that has provided an added edge to law enforcement’s efforts to protect our children and families. He was heartened that we also have neighboring counties emulating this law.
But we need to recognize that here is another ‘playground’ pedophiles increasingly use, and it is found wherever there is a personal computer with internet access. We must be up to the task of staying ahead of these perverts who would defile our children, and must recognize that this type of criminal is the most cunning and devious criminal known to the justice system, as they are the only criminal known to fashion their own life around potential and future victims; our children.

Our law enforcement professionals do yeoman’s work in tracking down these perverts who would defile our children, and often are up against all odds due to geography, jurisdiction, and the anonymity afforded by the Internet.

Ed proposed that the County investigate the acquisition of the cutting edge “Child Exploitation Tracking System” software, also known as CETS. It is a system just coming to the United States, and it is best described as a “predator drone”. Launched in Toronto in 2004, it connects law enforcement agencies world wide, immediately breaks down jurisdictional obstacles, and rapidly identifies and matches up the smallest bit of information to other cases being investigated. It saves time, money, and most importantly, brings a rapid, effective strategy that can identify and arrest individuals before they victimize a child.
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OLD ROUTE 304 CORRIDOR - NORTH NEW CITY - The issue of flooding, drainage, and stream remediation will continue to be a "front burner" item. Ed has, and will continue to work with both the County Drainage agency and Town DEC, and do his part in ensuring a seamless approach to projects that will have a positive impact on your quality of life. Additionally, Ed has not forgotten that the issue of the closed gas station on Christie Drive is STILL an issue. While we all realize that the matter is very dated, and maybe not much can be done, our community was affected, and Ed will endeavor to do whatever possible to right the situation.
UPDATE: Hard work has finally paid off as funding for the work in the Demarest Kill in and around Cranford Drive has been released, and increased funding has been secured from the County to Clarkstown for this project. Ed has also moved to ensure that the gas station, now in tax deliquency, gets no wiggle room during the proceedings and has been in constant contact with residents and state agencies in an effort to finally bring the matter to a close for our community. More to come on this !

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NEW CITY HAMLET REVITALIZATION - Ed has already conferred with a number of town officials, along with residents and business people. The bottom line is that this project needs to move forward as rapidly as possible. We all see the blight that is fast becoming the unfortunate "hallmark" of our community. This must be turned around quickly, and he will do everything in his power at the County level to support our Town Supervisor. Ed has also secured the full assurance that our County Executive, Scott Vanderhoef, who will continue to be a partner in this matter. Ed, who is also serving on a citizen sub-committee, will continue to maintain a joint, focused approach designed to get the job done.
UPDATE: Ed was able to bring $2 million of County funding to the Town project that will be used to refurbish Congers Road bewteen Main Street and Route 304. In addition, Ed sponsored successful legislation that will result in County funding for the purchase of the property directly in front of Dutch Gardens. The plan is for this entire area to be cleared and become a well appointed gateway to this historic park, opening up use by our residents and visitors. This was an effort that came out of the New City Visioning Committee on which he served, and is a testament to Town and County government working together with citizens and local business, all looking to bring a truly unique component to the revitalization of the New City Hamlet Center. A special acknowledgement to my legislative colleagues, the County Executive, and Clarkstown Town Supervisor.
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TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE DEVELOPMENT -
As far back as 2007, Ed sponsored a hearing before our Public Safety Committee that covered issues of bridge safety, traffic management, and other community concerns. After assurances at that time that all was fine, it was announced three months that another $20 million was needed to repair approximately 2000 deteriorations, some measuring 1 by 3 feet in size, beneath the bridge structure.

Ed continues to work diligently with his colleagues in the Legislature and the County Executive in efforts to move the matter of the Tappan Zee Bridge forward. While the DOT and the NYS Thruway Authority squabble over issues such as whose offices will be housed where, there is a continuation of very expensive “finger in the dyke” work going on. It is not comforting to hear the DOT commissioner say that the bridge “is sound, but not a sound as I would like it to be”.
Issues of bridge safety and the future development of the Tappan Zee Bridge affect all of us here in this community. It is imperative that the Thruway Authority remain vigilant in it maintenance and repair schedule, and that the future of the Tappan Zee Bridge reflect the needs and desires of this community. Ed will do his utmost to ensure just that.
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2009 BUDGET VOTE - Statement by Ed at the Rockland County Legislature explaining his rationale for voting "No" on the 2009 Budget - December 2^nd, 2008
I SHARE A SENSE OF FRUSTRATION WITH FELLOW LEGISLATORS, AND THAT IS BORNE FROM LESS THAN THREE YEARS IN THIS LEGISLATURE. I AM FRUSTRATED BY BOTH THE CONTENT AND PROCESS OF THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET SUBMITTED TO THIS LEGISLATURE

ON FEBRUARY 7^TH, AND DURING MY MESSAGE FROM THE MINORITY, I SPOKE OF A PENDING FISCAL CRISIS, CITING CURRENT INFORMATION FROM THE ROCKEFELLER INSTITUTE STATING THAT WE WERE THEN IN A RECESSION OR ABOUT TO ENTER ONE. I SPOKE OF 24 STATES AND NUMEROUS COUNTIES MAKING PREPARATIONS IN FRONT OF PENDING BUDGET GAPS, AND URGED THAT WE HERE IN ROCKLAND NOT WAIT AND ALSO DO THE SAME

MANY MONTHS LATER DURING THE SUMMER, THIS LEGISLATURE RECEIVED A RESPONSE TO A MAY REQUEST FOR A FINANCIAL PLAN TO REMEDIATE POSSIBLE DEFICITS IN THE COUNTY BUDGET.

ANY STRUCTURAL CHANGES SUBMITTED? NO, GOVERNMENT INSTEAD EMBARKED ON A “COST CUTTING PLAN” THAT HINGED ON REDUCING COPY PAPER, CELL PHONE USE, LIGHT BULBS, AND MAILINGS. AN APPROACH AKIN TO TRYING TO SLOW DOWN A LOCOMOTIVE BEARING DOWN ON A VEHICLE STUCK ON THE TRACKS WITH A FLY SWATTER.

WITH CRISIS COMES OPPORTUNITY. THAT IS CALLED LEADERSHIP. THE BUDGET WE RECEIVED SHOWED NO REAL EFFORT TO CONSOLIDATE COUNTY AND TOWN FUNCTIONS; NO REAL EFFORT TO COMPRESS RESPONSIBILITIES; NO REAL EFFORT TO MAKE GOVERNMENT SMALLER; JUST A CONTINUED FOCUS ON INCREASING TAXES BY USING THE POLITICALLY CORRECT WORD “REVENUE” INSTEAD OF REDUCING THE ROLE AND COST OF GOVERNMENT.

I JOINED COLLEAGUES IN HOURS UPON HOURS OF WORK, COMBING THROUGH BUDGET DATA SUBMITTED BY THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND MONTHS IN THE MAKING IN ONLY FIVE WEEKS IN ORDER TO FIND WAYS TO SAVE TAXPAYERS MONEY WHILE ENSURING VITAL SERVICES AND VOTED TO SUPPORT THESE AMENDED BUDGETS.

THIS PROCESS MAY HAVE WORKED AT ONE TIME; I WILL OFFER BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE IN PREPARING AND ASSESSING MULTI MILLION DOLLAR BUDGETS THAT THIS PROCESS NOW CHALLENGES ANY SENSE OF RATIONAL THOUGHT.

WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE BUDGET AND FINANCE CHAIR, ILAN SCHOENBERGER FOR HIS YEOMANS WORK ONCE MORE WITH THE SUBMITTED BUDGET.

ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT MY COLLEAGUES CONTINUE TO BRING TO THIS PROCESS.

MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT; EVEN WITH ALL THE LEGISLATURE’S WORK TO ENSURE THAT OUR COUNTY FINANCES REMAIN STABLE, EVEN WITH ITS EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH A RESERVE FUND; THIS BUDGET, AND ITS SUBMITTED PROJECTIONS, IS FLAWED. WHILE LEGALLY SUFFICIENT WITH WHAT IS CHARACTERIZED AS “GOOD FAITH NUMBERS” BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, IT IS DOOMED TO ANOTHER ROUND OF SHORTFALLS AS THE RESERVE WE ARE ESTABLISHING WILL ONLY SERVE AS A SMALL CUSHION FOR THE DEFICITS WE WILL ABSOLUTELY SEE AS WE REVISIT THIS PROCESS ONCE AGAIN NEXT FALL.

AS OUR FISCAL ANALYSTS REPORTED, AND IN LAYMEN’S TERMS, WE STARTED THIS PROCESS NINE MILLION DOLLARS IN THE HOLE, AND ARE LOOKING AT A POTENTIAL UNFAVORABLE VARIANCE OF NEARLY TWELVE TO TWENTY FOUR MILLION DOLLARS ON TOP OF THAT.

SALES TAX – THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE’S EXPECTATION OF SIX MILLION MORE IN 2009 FLIES IN THE FACE OF FACTS. NEARLY EVERY RETAIL OUTLET IS PREDICTING DOWNTURNS; INCREASED INTERNET SALES; LOCAL CHAINS SUCH AS KOHLS SEEING SAME STORE SALES DROP 7% DURING THE LAST THREE MONTHS, AND PROJECTING AN EIGHT TO TWELVE % DOWNTURN IN THE CURRENT PERIOD. I NOTE THAT OUR OWN FISCAL ANALYSTS AGREE WE SHOULD NOT EXPECT TO SEE THAT ADDITIONAL SIX MILLION DOLLARS.

RED LIGHT CAMERAS – THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR THIS REVENUE HAS BEEN PROJECTED IN THE SUBMITTED BUDGET. LAST YEAR, $900,000 WAS INCLUDED AND NEVER TRANSPIRED. THIS YEAR, WE ARE NOW SUPPOSED TO SEE 1.3 MILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE STARTING SIX MONTHS FROM NOW. HOW WILL THIS OCCUR? SIMPLE … STATE LAW, WHICH AUTHORIZES ONLY MUNICIPALITIES OF A MILLION OR MORE TO DO THIS, MUST BE CHANGED. THEN, THIS LEGISLATURE MUST HAVE THE BILL SUBMITTED BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. THEN PUBLIC HEARINGS; COMMITTEE PROCESS; LOCATIONS IDENTIFIED; SCOPE OF WORK FOR BIDS; VENDORS SELECTED; CAMERAS PURCHASED AND INSTALLED; AND DURING THAT TIME A MANNER IN WHICH TO ADMINISTRATE THE ENTIRE INITIATIVE MUST BE PUT IN PLACE. MAYBE SOMEONE IS SELLING A BRIDGE, BUT I FOR ONE AM NOT BUYING IT.

HOTEL TAX- A 6% LEVY, HALF OF WHICH NEEDS APPROVAL BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE, AGAIN GIVES US A REVENUE PROJECTION OUR ANALYSTS SAY IS OVERLY OPTIMISTIC TO BE KIND. AND IF FULLY ENACTED, IT WILL GIVE ROCKLANDERS AND VISITORS TO OUR COUNTY ANOTHER REASON TO GO TO BERGEN COUNTY. BUT NOW THEY CAN ALSO STAY OVERNIGHT AS THEY PURCHASE GASOLINE AND CLOTHING THAT ALREADY IS MADE CHEAPER BY OUR SHORT SIGHTED VIEW OF THE IMPACT OF A SALES TAX UPON MARKET REALITIES. OF COURSE, WHAT IS NOT IN THESE PROJECTIONS IS THE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON REVENUES AND THE INCREASED COST TO TAXPAYERS FROM LOST BUSINESS, REDUCED LOCAL SPENDING, AND INCREASED UNEMPLOYMENT.

PROPERTY TAX – THIS PIECE OF THE BUDGET, ABOVE ALL ELSE, IS THE MOST TROUBLING TO ME. THE PRIMARY REASON? FOOL ME ONCE, SHAME ON YOU – FOOL ME TWICE, SHAME ON ME. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER WILL SEE A 9.85% PROPERTY TAX INCREASE. I BELIEVE IT WILL BE HIGHER. THE PRECISE LANGUAGE USED? THE MONEY COLLECTED VIA THE COUNTY PROPERTY TAX WILL BE INCREASED BY 9.85%. THAT MEANS THE IMPACT WILL VARY BASED ON EACH TOWN’S EQUALIZATION RATE.

LAST YEAR WHEN THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE PROPOSED A 7 ½ % PROPERTY TAX INCREASE. A FORMER LEGISLATOR QUESTIONED THE MATH, STATING THE INCREASE WOULD BE CLOSER TO 16%. I THEN ASKED A DIRECT QUESTION OF THE COUNTY FINANCE DIRECTOR … WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM NUMBER THE INCREASE COULD VARY FOR THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER FROM TOWN TO TOWN? I WAS DIRECTLY TOLD THAT IT WOULD VARY NO MORE “THAN A PERCENTAGE POINT OR SO”.

WELL, THAT LEGISLATOR WAS WRONG. HIS DIRE PREDICTIONS WERE TOO LOW. THE COUNTY LINE ON MY PROPERTY TAX BILL INCREASED 19.9%. I DID MY OWN UNOFFICIAL INQUIRY AND FOUND THAT THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASES FOR MY NEIGHBORS RANGED FROM 18% IN RAMAPO, TO 20% IN CLARKSTOWN, AND 32% IN HAVERSTRAW … 2 ½ TO 4 TIMES THE NUMBER THAT WAS PRESENTED TO THIS LEGISLATURE.

MY FEAR NOW IS WHAT THE PROPOSED NEARLY 10% PROPERTY TAX INCREASE WILL MAGICALLY MORPH INTO, AND DAMAGE EVEN MORE OUR STRUGGLING FAMILIES IN ROCKLAND.

I RECOGNIZE THAT NEARLY 70% OF OUR BUDGET IS OUT OF OUR DIRECT CONTROL. I REALIZE THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROVIDING CARE FOR THOSE WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE LARGELY RESTS WITH THE COUNTY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT.

I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT OTHER HUDSON VALLEY COUNTIES ARE DOING MORE WITH LESS. THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY EXECUTIVE SUBMITTED A 1.7 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET THAT TOOK INTO ACCOUNT 26 MILLION IN LOST REVENUES AND RAISED PROPERTY TAXES BY LESS THAN 3%. THE DUTCHESS COUNTY EXECUTIVE FROZE PROPERTY TAXES TO THE 2008 LEVEL AND REDUCED SPENDING FROM 405 MILLION DOLLARS TO 395 MILLION DOLLARS. OUR PROPOSED BUDGET HERE? IT INCREASES SPENDING BY 27 MILLION DOLLARS AND 4%.

I BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE A 2009 BUDGET THAT MAINTAINS 2008 BUDGET LEVELS, KEEPS CONTRACT AGENCIES WHOLE, AND INCLUDES THE EXPECTATION THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE IDENTIFY AND IMPLEMENT A 4% AVERAGE, ACROSS THE BOARD, OPERATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL SAVINGS. THAT MAY BE DIFFICULT NOW, AS THAT PROCESS SHOULD HAVE STARTED MANY MONTHS BEFORE THE BUDGET WAS SUBMITTED TO US FIVE WEEKS AGO.

GOVERNMENT CANNOT SPEND WHAT IT DOES NOT HAVE, AND THE INDICATORS SHOULD NOW, FINALLY, BE CLEAR THAT IS THE CASE. MORE TO THE POINT, WE CANNOT SPEND WHAT THE ULTIMATE FUNDER OF GOVERNMENT, OUR TAXPAYERS, DO NOT HAVE.
THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE OF "PARTY". THIS IS NOT ABOUT DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN. THIS IS ABOUT RIGHTING THE SHIP WE CALL HOME.

I BELIEVE THAT ROCKLAND CAN DO BETTER. HOPEFULLY, THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH WILL TAKE MORE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR SUBMITTED BUDGETS IN THE FUTURE. BUT FOR NOW, I SIMPLY REFER TO THE COMMENTARY THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFERED LAST YEAR WHEN WE HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE MADE AMENDMENTS THAT, IF WERE NOT MADE THEN, WOULD HAVE FURTHER EXACERBATED THE MULTI MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT WE FIND OURSELVES IN THIS YEAR.

IT WAS SUGGESTED THEN BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE THAT THE BURDEN FOR ESTIMATION OF REVENUE IS EQUALLY SHARED BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT, FAIR ENOUGH. FOR THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS, I SUPPORTED THIS PROCESS AS PART OF THIS LEGISLATURE’S GOOD FAITH EFFORT FOR THE PEOPLE OF ROCKLAND. WE SALVAGED QUESTIONABLE BUDGETS SUBMITTED TO US; WE MADE THE TOUGH CHANGES AND HARD CHOICES. TONIGHT, HOWEVER, I CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE VOTE FOR A BUDGET THAT I SEE AS SO PROBLEMATIC IN SO MANY AREAS. I VOTE “NO”.
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SALES TAX - Ed requested that hearings be conducted to address what has become an unhealthy reliance by County government on the sales tax for revenue.
State and local government has created an alternate market for goods 10 minutes away in New Jersey. They do not make gasoline and clothing any better there, but government here has made it cheaper through regressive taxation. That drives up other costs to taxpayers due to closed businesses and less collected revenue.
The challenge will be to identify ways to moderate our reliance on a sales taxes that hurts our overall economy here, and does so without raising our property taxes.
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SAVING YOU MONEY ...
Government must work smarter and better out of respect to those who have entrusted us with their hard earned tax dollars. Ed continues to look for imtiatiatives to "stretch our dollar" and get the job done in service to this community.
With Medicaid costing this County over $60 million per year, and with an estimate that fraud typically is 10% of that cost, Ed submitted successful legislation to get reimbursement for Medicaid fraud detection software designed to recoup some of that estimated $6 million.
He will continue to question and send back contracts that do not meet the accepted standards and practices that my business background expects. That saves money. Ed also submitted successful legislation that nowallows our County to access the federal General Services Administration (GSA) schedules, providing volume pricing for law enforcement, security, facilities, and other related equipment.
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OUR ENVIRONMENT - The most common denominator in our community is the environment we all share. In respect of that reality, Ed has submitted initiatives to County government so we raise our own bar when it comes to being sensitive to our environment. However, we must never lose sight of striking a balance in our efforts. There has been, and will continue to be proposals to ban products and convey County sales tax breaks for installing geo thermal and buying hybrid vehicles for example.Many constituents agree that while they favor incentives, they question putting that entire responsibility upon our local taxpayer, particularly given the fiscal conditions we face now. It is particularly frustrating that our state and federal government actually have real incentive options in place, but many are lacking for a variety of reasons.

It was with that in mind that Ed approached our County Purchasing professionals in an effort to create a comprehensive approach in establishing an environmentally smart approach to procurement policy. What we were able to accomplish was a detailed process and strategy that would authorize a sustainable procurement policy, integrating fiscal, health, and environmental factors into the County’s process of acquiring goods and services.

This is both good government and smart government, and Ed is proud to have been joined in this now bipartisan effort by Legislator Wolfe. The legislation amended the County of Rockland Procurement Policy, and  now is a permanent change in the way we do business. The objective here is to establish an efficient and balanced “green” procurement policy that respects our environment and does so without inflicting our already overburdened taxpayers with unnecessary costs.

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