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Yonkers City Clerk Joan Deierlein
CHANGES TO TAKE PLACE IN POLLING LOCATIONS, ELECTION DUTIES AND VOTING MACHINES
Yonkers City Clerk Joan Deierlein addressed the Executive Committee of the Yonkers Republican City Committee at their May 1st meeting regarding upcoming changes in various aspects of election management.
Effective this year, the Board will be assigning - and paying directly, - the election inspectors. They have hired an additional eight people to handle this and have indicated that they will work with the local leaders, much the same as the Clerks did in years past. However, this year the lists of workers will go directly to the Board of Elections and not to the City Clerk’s Office. The Board will pay the workers $250.00 for the day, with an additional $25.00 for the Chairperson.
Because of the lawsuit filed against the County Board of Elections – among others – by a group called Disabled on the Move, there is a request from this organization, through the Court, to move some polling locations prior to this year’s elections. The following locations in Yonkers are on the list considered by this organization to be the least accessible for handicapped voters:
Latvian Luther Church – 254 Valentine Lane
Police/Fire House – 36 Radford Street
South Presbyterian Church – 112 Radford Street
School 5 – LockwoodAvenue
Asbury Church – Scarsdale Road
New York State Armory – North Broadway & Quincy Place
Greystone Gardens – 834 North Broadway
Gorton High School – Shonnard Place
School 9 – Fairview Street
Westchester Towers – 1853 Central Park Avenue
1300 Midland Avenue
School 14 – Crescent Place
School 23 – 56 Van Cortlandt Park Avenue
Good Shepherd Church – 320 Walnut Street.
If anyone has any suggestions for alternative polling places – particularly in the Gorton High School/School 9 areas - please contact the Deputy Commissioners at the Board of Elections – 995-5700 - or their Ward Leaders.
At this time it appears that this will be the last year that the old voting machines will be used. The plan is that new, electronic machines will be in place for the 2007 elections.
The Board has asked that the Clerks work with the Board of Elections as liaisons to assist with the transition. The goal for all of us is to make this transition as smooth as possible and take whatever steps are necessary to insure problem free elections.
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YONKERS REPUBLICAN JOURNAL Vol. I No. IV
Jim Faulkner, Editor
Paul Donohue, Associate Editor
A Monthly Publication
Published at 316 Warburton Avenue
Yonkers, New York 10701
Telephone 914 426-4944
www.yonkersrepublicanjournal.com
yonkersrepublicanjournal@gmail.com
COPYRIGHT MARCH 2006 Yonkers Republican Journal
The Yonkers Republican Journal welcomes comments, letters and submissions for publication. Submissions will be printed at the discretion of the Editor and will not be returned.
FROM THE
CHAIRMANWhat a great feeling! I am truly excited.
On Thursday April 20th I had the pleasure of attending the first meeting of the Northeast Yonkers Republican Club, formed from the 5th, 10th and 11th Wards. The meeting, chaired by former City Chairman John Jacono, was held at the Asbury Church on Scarsdale Road, and was attended by over sixty people.
Our elected officials attending the meeting included Senator Nick Spano, Assemblyman Lou Mosiello, County Legislator Gordon Burrows, Mayor Phil Amicone, Councilwoman Dee Barbato and Councilman John Murtagh (John’s appearance may well have gone above and beyond the call of duty. He attended the meeting in great discomfort and later in the evening had his gall bladder removed). Former County Clerk Leonard Spano and former Assemblyman Mike Spano were there as well.
With the 12th Ward active on the East side, the 1st, 3rd and 6th Wards combining on the West side and now the 5th, 10th and 11th Wards joining in Northeast Yonkers, We are witnessing a resurgence of activism in the Republican Party. We are building a team with which we can move forward.
As we head into late spring on our way to this fall’s elections, this is most encouraging. The number of registered voters may favor the other party, but with unity and commitment we have the necessary tools to educate our friends and neighbors about our principles, positions and candidates.
We must work together to ensure the re-election of Sen. Spano, who has represented us in Albany for over two decades working to control our taxes through programs like the STAR program; to control Medicaid fraud; to reform the Medicaid and welfare systems; to bring necessary state aid to balance our city budget; to improve health care for our senior citizens; and innumberable other instances. In the last senatorial election Nick was targeted by the state Democratic party and won re-election by only eighteen votes. We need a strong coordinated effort to keep Sen. Spano in Albany.
Likewise, we need to put together a strong effort to re-elect Assemblyman Lou Mosiello, the sole Republican representing Westchester County in the New York State Assembly.
In addition, we will be electing a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, Supreme Court Justice, U.S. Senator and Representative.
With all of this going on it is urgent that we move forward together - as a united party - to present and promote our choices for public office, to turn out our party members on election day and to work for our candidates in every way possible.
We have worked together to get to this point and we must continue to work together - as a team - to be victorious in this fall’s elections.
I want to assure you that I have dedicated myself to that goal. I am available to give any assistance that I can to our candidates and to our Ward Leaders. And, if you can help and want to be a vibrant part of this effort, please contact me and let me know. I will wholeheartedly welcome you.
Zehy Jereis, City Chairman
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
MAY 4th 6:00PM - Lou Mosiello Fundraiser at Ricky’s Clam House, 1955 Central Park Avenue. $150 per person, $500 Sponsor.
MAY 4th 7:00 PM - 1st, 3rd & 6th Wards Combined Meeting at the Ukrainian Youth Center, 301 Palisade Ave. Contact Jim Faulkner @ 914 426-4944 for info.
MAY 9th - John Faso at Crain’s Business Breakfast Forum - Grand Hyatt, 42nd St. & Grand Central Terminal. 8:00 AM. $60 per person, $600 for table. Must be pre-registered. Call 212 210-0739.
MAY 25th 7:45 PM - 12th Ward Meeting at Huber VFW Post 375, corner of Huber Place and Central Avenue.
JUNE 1st 7:00 PM - 1st, 3rd & 6th Wards Combined Meeting at the Ukrainian Youth Center, 301 Palisade Ave. Contact Jim Faulkner @ 914 426-4944 for info.
JUNE 2nd 7:00PM - Westchester County Women's Republican Club 2006 Spring Gala, Lake Isle Country Club, Eastchester. Honoring Andrea Peyser, N. Y. Post columnist and District Attorney Janet DiFiore. $100 per person. Call 914 584-8642 for information.
JUNE 7th 7:00 PM - GOLD KEY DINNER - Yonkers GOP fundraiser at St. Andrews Golf Club. $150 per person. For further info contact Zehy Jereis 914 969-9363.
JUNE 15th 7:30 PM - Northeast Yonkers Republican Club - 45th, 10th & 11th Wards Combined Meeting at the Asbury Church, Scarsdale Road.
From
the desk of . . .
Senator
Nick Spano
May 2006
Dear Friends,
I want to take this opportunity to bring you up to date on the status of the State Budget, in addition to a number of initiatives that I have been working on to help Yonkers residents and their families.
As I reported last month, for the second straight year in a row, the Legislature passed an on-time budget … a budget that allocates $100 million dollars in state aid to our great City, including $76 million dollars in recurring aid.
With the State running a considerable surplus at the same time that Yonkers residents are struggling to cope with property taxes and the skyrocketing costs of gasoline, I worked to take decisive action to help Yonkers’ hardworking, overburdened taxpayers.
Unfortunately, the Governor vetoed parts of the State Budget. After it became apparent during negotiations that this impasse could not be broken, the only alternative for the Senate was to make sure that our tax cuts and smart spending were enacted into law by overriding the Governor’s vetoes.
My colleagues and I had to put families first, and that is what we did.
The Senate also took steps to help reduce the high price of gasoline by passing a bill that provides for a partial tax exemption on the state’s sales tax. This tax cap on gasoline will yield a savings of between six to eleven cents per gallon! I am hopeful that the Assembly will follow suit this year to provide New York’s motorists with this vital tax relief.
In other news, I recently unveiled a package of bills to enhance protections for families visiting amusement parks and carnivals throughout our state. Our children and families must feel and be safe and secure, and my legislation is aimed at enhancing that realm of safety.
I also worked to secure a State grant to help preserve the historic Sherwood House, which is adjacent to the Sprain Brook Parkway and Tuckahoe Road. It is imperative that we maintain the rich history of Yonkers, and the Sherwood House is certainly a gem in the crown of our City.
As always, I am here to serve you. If I can help you in any way, please do not hesitate to call on me.
Best Regards,
NICK SPANO
Senator
Providing Relief at the Pumps: A Short-Term Plan and Long-Term Solution
Legislative Column by Assemblyman Lou Mosiello
Rising gas prices have pushed motorists to the breaking point, especially coming so soon after increased costs associated with home heating. To ease this burden, we have pushed legislation to provide a state sales tax exemption on motor and diesel fuel exceeding $2 per gallon. OPEC (the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) is not the only beneficiary of high gas prices; New York state is also reaping a huge windfall. Presently, New York taxpayers pay 65 cents per gallon in gas taxes and this is neither reasonable nor sustainable for most motorists with gas prices soaring past $3 per gallon.
In order to provide short-term relief, we propose the implementation of a gas tax cap that will save motorists about $.10 per gallon based on current gas prices that are over $3.00.
The plan also includes the diversion of present tax money to support research into alternative fuels. All tax on the second dollar (from $1.00-$2.00) would go toward the “Alternative Fuel Incentive Fund.” The fund would go toward Ethanol, Hydrogen and Hybrid Vehicle research and development of alternative fuel-station infrastructure. It is expected that the Alternative Fuel Incentive Fund would receive $265 million in money earned on the tax of the second dollar spent.
In addition to saving the motorist money with the tax cap, and creating incentive and infrastructure for alternative fuel, the plan will also reduce the price of gasoline by reducing the demand for gasoline through the use of alternative fuels. The state hopes to save New Yorkers money by stopping tax at $2.00 per gallon and using the state and local portion of the gas tax to increase New York’s investment in alternative fuel, hybrid and flex-fuel vehicles.
* The plan calls for $90 million in personal income tax and corporate franchise tax credit
equal to $500 per hybrid or fuel-flexible vehicle purchased. This initiative will encourage
consumers to purchase these vehicles;
* $30 million would go toward academic institutions and
public/private consortiums dedicated to research and development
of fuel diversification and energy efficiency in the transportation sector;
* $27 million for equipping each of the 27 travel plazas on the New
York Thruway with alternative fueling stations;
* $20 million to construct a cellulosic ethanol refinery;
* $3 million to eliminate state and local sales tax and motor fuel
excise tax on alternative fuels; and
* $5 million for administrative costs.
New Yorkers presently pay the highest fuel taxes in the Northeast, almost 20 cents above the national average. With gas prices above $3.00 per gallon and climbing, New Yorkers need relief. This plan will relieve pain at the pump and invest in the future through research and development of alternative energy sources.
from the desk
of . . .
GORDON A. BURROWS, Westchester County Legislator
In his “State of the County” address last week County Executive Andrew Spano barely mentioned the cost of the Westchester County government. Not a bad move, considering that our county taxes have gone up forty-one per cent - 41% - in the eight years that he has been in office. In fact, his main cost-cutting measure is a pledge to try to reduce overtime going to county employees.
At a time when we are being battered by rising taxes and expenses and many of our retired residents are faced with the very real prospect of being forced out of their homes, this is, to be polite, insufficient.
But then, what should we expect? The current county budget system does not require the County Executive to submit his proposed budget until November 15th. As you know, this is after election day. This allows the C. E. and county legislators to run for election before letting the voters know how they intend to spend our money. It also leaves the County Legislature only six weeks to revise and adopt a final budget within the required time constraints.
The Republican minority in the legislature strongly believes that the entire budget process should be moved up so that the budget is presented well before election day. This not only allows our citizens to voice their opinions on the budget before the election but also gives the legislature more time to work on the budget in order to provide needed services with the lowest possible cost to the taxpayer.
Likewise, any vote to increase compensation to County legislators should be limited to the election years in which legislators are to be elected and should be conducted prior to the election. There is no need to spring a “surprise” on our taxpayers after the election, as occurred last fall. We believe that this is deceptive and insulting to our residents.
We strongly support the establishment of an Office of Inspector General, so that governmental spending, particularly no-bid contracts, may be overseen by an agency with an eye to protecting us from improper or unreasonable expenditures. This would go hand-in-hand with reforming the County Contracts Board.
In this time of increasing gas prices the Republican contingent of the County Legislature has proposed that Westchester County suspend the collection of its portion of the sales tax on gasoline and diesel fuel throughout the summer. With current economic growth exceeding budget estimates this would not affect the current county budget.
On another note, I was pleased to attend the first meeting of the Northeast Yonkers Republican Club on April 20th, chaired by former Republican City Chairman John Jacono.
This coming together of the 5th, 10th and 11th Wards is encouraging for the City of Yonkers. With the 12th Ward Club continuing their long-standing monthly meetings and the 1st, 3rd and 6th Wards combining for monthly meetings since February it is clear that the Yonkers Republican Party is mobilizing for this fall’s elections.
I am, as always, available to address your concerns. Feel free to call my office at 914 995-6554.
ITEMS OF INTEREST
As reported in The Journal News, April 30th.
Yonkers’ new Ethics Board has issued an opinion regarding City Council President Chuck Lesnick and his law firm.
In March, two months after being sworn into office, Mr. Lesnick sought an opinion in regard to representing clients before city agencies. The Ethics Board has reached the conclusion that Mr. Lesnick may not represent such clients.
As a result, Mr. Lesnick is resigning his position with the law firm of Smith Buss & Jacobs. That firm, according to Mr. Lesnick, “will not be subject to any restrictions of the ethics board, because I won’t be part of them. There will be no appearance of impropriety.”
Mr. Lesnick will continue to rent space in the offices of Smith Buss & Jacobs, but will bill his clients directly and will not represent clients before city agencies. Mr. Lesnick asked the Ethics Board for a waiver to allow his firm to represent clients on city business, as long as he does not derive compensation from the work.
As reported in the NY Times, May 2nd.
State Supreme Court Justice Colabella ruled on Tuesday that the City of Yonkers violated local and county laws by reducing the number of votes needed to approve a zoning change for the proposed Ridge Hill development.
He said that the City Council erred when it abolished a provision in the city code that required five of seven votes to approve zoning changes for any project rejected by the Westchester County Planning Board.
Judge Colabella also concluded that the city should have held a public hearing on the proposed change and should have referred it to the county’s Planning Board before the Council voted on it.
The City plans to appeal, but City council President Chuck lesnick said that the developer will be allowed to continue work on the site and prepare it for construction.
Plaintifffs in the action were City Council members John Murtagh, Dee Barbato, Sandy Annabi and Lesnick.
Mayor Philip Amicone said, “All that was accomplished was the senseless delay of a project that will bring thousands of jobs to Yonkers and infuse millions of dollars in new revenues into our school system and our economy.”
Mr. Murtagh said that the lawsuit wasn’t intended to block the project, but rather to compel the developers to reconsider its scope and take into account concerns that it might lead to an unmanageable traffic nightmare. He said, “Too much of this project was negotiated behind closed doors; it has never been handled properly from the start. Hopefully, the developers will sit down and actually come up with a plan that everyone can live with.”
At the May 1st Executive Committee Meeting of the Yonkers Republican City Committee.
Michele Graffeo, Esquire, was appointed counsel to the Executive Committee. Michele’s practice is in Manhattan.
REPUBLICAN ELECTED OFFICIALS
SEN. NICHOLAS SPANO
ALBANY OFFICE
Room 509 Legislative Office Building
Albany NY 12247
518 455-2231
spano@senate.state.ny.us
WESTCHESTER OFFICE
1 Executive Boulevard
Yonkers NY 10701
914 969-5194
www.senatorspano.com
ASS. LOUIS MOSIELLO
ALBANY OFFICE
431 Legislative Office Building
Albany NY 12248
518 455-3662
mosiell@assembly.state.ny.us
YONKERS OFFICE
35 E. Grassy Sprain Rd. 4th Floor
Yonkers NY 1070
914 779-8805
www.loumosiello.com
County Legislators
Bernice Spreckman
County Board of Legislators
800 Michaelian Office Building
148 Martine Avenue
914 995-2815
amme@westchestergov.com
Gordon A. Burrows
County Board of Legislators
800 Michaelian Office Building
148 Martine Avenue
914 995-6554
sam9@westchestergov.com
Mayor Philip A. Amicone
Mayor’s Office
2nd Floor
40 South Broadway
Yonkers NY 10701
914 377-6300
cityhall@cityofyonkers.com
YONKERS CITY COUNCIL
John Murtagh
City Council
Room 407
40 South Broadway
Yonkers NY 10701
Off. 914 377-6315 Home 377-3555
johnmurtagh@cityofyonkers.com
Dee Barbato
City Council
Room 407
40 South Broadway
Yonkers NY 10701
Off. 914 377-6316 Home 377-3006
deebarbato@cityofyonkers.com
Liam McLaughlin
City Council
Room 407
40 South Broadway
Yonkers NY 10701
Off. 914 377-6314 Home 377-3004
liammclaughlin@cityofyonkers.com
YONKERS REPUBLICAN CITY COMMITTEE
CHAIRMAN
ZEHY JEREIS
914 774-7571
VICE-CHAIR
JEANNE MARTINELLI
2ND VICE-CHAIR
ALBERTO VILLATE
914 844-5086 - Cell
avillate@gmail.cim
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Richard Hoffman
SECRETARY
RITA JEWELL
TREASURER
KEVIN DEIERLEIN
WARD LEADERS AND CO-LEADERS
1st Ward
Elizabeth Hemingway
Larry Sykes
2nd Ward
Bernadette Lawler
3rd Ward
Jim Faulkner
316 Warburton Ave.
Yonkers NY 10701
914 426-4944
jimfaulkner3@mac.com
Cicely Greaves-Vega
4th Ward
Luis A. Areizaga, Jr.
cell 914 469-6298
Abraham Hattar
5th Ward
Henry Sershen
Helen Calabrese
6th Ward
Michael Ramondelli
Sheila Tuohy
7th Ward
Susan Salem
Gilbert Balezentis
8th Ward
Mike Valenti
Steve Wilgermein
9th Ward
Justin Tubiolo
Vincent Volino
10th Ward
Rich Barbato
Stan Alexander
11th Ward
John Murtagh
Sandra Capuano
12th Ward
Geri Esposito
Bernadette McLaughlin
914 649-7359 Cell
FROM
MAYOR AMICONEMay 2006
Fellow Republicans,
I pleased to report that, since your last monthly meeting, we’ve made tremendous progress toward putting Yonkers back in good financial condition. On April 17, I delivered a balanced budget to the City Council that maintains all city services and guarantees a record increase in education funding to our public schools.
Only a few months ago, due to the loss of tens of millions in state desegregation monies and rising fuel and energy prices, our city was facing a $100 million budget deficit that would have destroyed services and forced us to layoff dozens of city and school employees.
By rolling up our sleeves and working together with our Republican colleagues in Albany—Governor Pataki, Senator Spano and Assemblyman Mosiello—we were able to close that budget gap with no layoffs, no cuts in services and no damage to our school system.
As a Republican, I am always fighting to reduce the size and cost of government which is why I cut discretionary spending by more than $1 million for the third straight year.
At the same time, we were able to secure a record amount of education funding for the public school system. My budget delivers a $36 million increase in city aid to the Board of Education that will fully fund classroom programs as our schools continue to improve.
While we did cut costs, I am proposing a modest 5% increase in property taxes to help restore art and music programs to our elementary schools. This is money well spent, as better schools not only mean a brighter future for our children, they mean higher property values for everyone.
Finally, I want to say a word about improving the quality of life in Yonkers. We’re a big city with a lot of people and a wonderful variety of great neighborhoods. But just like with any big city, sometimes our residents need help solving problems in their own back yards.
Whether you have a pothole on your street that needs filling, a cracked sidewalk in need of repair, worn out playground equipment that needs replacing or if you just need help understanding your water bill, as mayor I want City Hall to be a resource for you as we address issues that affect your quality of life. That’s why I’m proposing a new 311 phone system to help residents with everyday, non-emergency quality of life issues.
Once implemented later this year, you will be able to answer many of your questions about city government and tell us about concerns in your neighborhood by simply dialing 3 – 1 – 1 on your telephone. This system has been successful in other cities across the country and I look forward to getting it up and running in Yonkers.
As always, I encourage your input and feedback on these and other important issues. Please contact me though the city’s website at CityofYonkers.com. I look forward to seeing you at future ward meetings and at events around the city. Please come up and say hello!
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR
QUESTIONS CALL 914 584-8642