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Mr. Speaker...
Our own congressman, the Hon. Maurice D. Hinchey, presiding as Speaker pro tem of the United States House of Representatives.
November 2007
In this issue:
Chair's Message
Education Funding Reform
Invitation to Danskoi Gallery
Dear
Fellow Democrats:
Another
election has ended and the county's voters have ratified the continuation of the
Democrat's reform agenda in the Ulster County Legislature.
While the opposition picked up one seat, voters responded to our message
of open government, competence, and willingness to work together to solve our
county's problems, and we still hold a strong majority.
The
District Attorney's race was a disappointment to us all.
We thank Jonathan Sennett for standing as our candidate and for his
efforts on behalf of Democrats everywhere.
There
have recently been many divisions in our Party, and, as the presidential primary
fast approaches, I believe there will be more.
We have to recognize that ours is a Party of coalitions, of people with
many differing opinions and disparate beliefs.
We cannot dismiss people's opinions because they do not align with our
own, nor can we continue to focus on the minutae that has the potential to
divide us. We need to be able to disagree without rancor and ill-will toward
those who do not share our opinions.
As
we continue on, we need to focus instead on the values that unite us: integrity
in government, equal access to opportunity, fairness in freedom of expression,
and, most importantly, a chance for our children to have better lives than our
own and the ability to live in a better America.
That's what true Democrats stand for.
I
urge all of you to join me in looking forward, putting the past behind us, and
uniting in our common values.
John Parete, Chair
Ulster
County Democratic Committee
The
election may be over, but the problems that make life hard in Ulster County are
ongoing, especially for anyone who pays school taxes. New Yorkers pay more per
capita in taxes than citizens of any other state, and according to a recent
study by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, the
tax burden for middle and lower income citizens is only getting worse, as school
taxes are increasing at double the rate of inflation.
Someone
who wants to fix the problem: Assemblymember Kevin
Cahill. Cahill recently introduced legislation to alter the flawed,
property-value-based system and the following column by him outlines how a new,
much fairer scheme would work. We urge you to read it and pass it along to
anyone in Ulster County who is feeling the tax burden pinch and wants a way out.
EDUCATION FUNDING
REFORM MUST BE OUR TOP PRIORITY
by Assemblyman
Kevin Cahill
Over the past few
years school funding reform has taken center stage. It's about time. The people
of the Hudson Valley and all of New York deserve real solutions, not rhetoric,
for this crisis that is crippling our schools and threatening the very fabric of
our communities.
THE CHALLENGE
Since 1995, local
property tax levies have grown by 60 percent, more than twice the rate of
inflation during that period (28 percent). Most of this growth occurred in the
last 6 years -- when property tax levies increased by well over 40 percent,
compared to inflation of 13 percent. The cost of education has been the driving
force behind these destabilizing increases. This trend is unsustainable. The
regressive nature of property taxes is robbing our families and friends of their
homes, pushing them out of our communities and in many cases away from New York
State. The time has come for the state to assume this enormous cost -- estimated
at $18 to $20 billion -- so we can ensure that the responsibility to educate our
children is spread equitably amongst all New Yorkers.
THE ANSWER
I have introduced
legislation (A.4746) that will eliminate the use of regressive real estate taxes
for the purposes of funding education. This bill is based on the premise that it
is the state's responsibility to ensure that every child, everywhere in New
York, has an equal right to a quality education regardless of where they live or
the level of their family's income. By eliminating the school real property tax
and shifting to a more progressive statewide income tax, we will be able to fund
our schools equitably, fairly and more affordably for all New Yorkers.
HOW WE PAY FOR IT
The most
economically sensible way to raise such revenues would involve restoring
progressivity to our state tax code and recasting the income tax structure in a
way that ensures that the wealthiest residents pay their fair share in state and
local taxes. The current personal income tax levy in New York is essentially
flat, with individuals making under $30,000 required to pay the top rate. I have
been advocating for a system that will distribute the burden more equitably
across the spectrum of incomes. I support replacing New York's current bracket
structure with its 1972 brackets (2% through 15%) with exemptions adjusted to
reflect the changes in the cost of living over the past 30 years. Under this
option, 95% of New Yorkers would pay less while the state would collect about $8
billion more in revenue.
The next step
would be to eliminate the School Tax Relief program (STAR) that is anticipated
to cost the state nearly $6 billion this year.
While the program was initially aimed at an important problem it has
largely outlived its effectiveness. Under STAR, the bulk of the funding is
distributed to the wealthiest school districts while ignoring the fact that
residents located in the poorest school districts -- the ones with the least
ability to pay -- are forced to
dedicate the highest percentage of their income to fund their local schools.
This program also discriminates against renters and businesses, as they are not
eligible to participate. By eliminating school property taxes, STAR will no
longer be necessary.
Finally, we must
come up with innovative methods to control costs. Our underutilized BOCES system
is in a perfect position to take advantage of economies of scale when it comes
to uniform expenses like transportation, administration and energy. A
regionalized approach to paying for other big-ticket items such as special
education, pension and health insurance could also be explored.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
MEET THE CHALLENGE
Let’s not kid
ourselves; a state takeover of the total cost of educating every child in this
state would entail an enormous cost shift. All of the stakeholders, as well as
the members of the State Legislature, have to be made to understand that the
values of fairness and equal opportunity and affordability are worth what would
be a revolution in state and local taxation. It shouldn’t be, but that is a
hard sell. The situation is not made any better when local school officials and
other interested parties fail to acknowledge the dramatic and progressive
increases in state school funding over the last several years. And when record
school budgets outstrip record increases in school aid, a significant part of
the problem remains unaddressed and frustration replaces determination for some.
While there are
other barriers yet to be overcome in addressing the school funding issue, as
well, regional differences (New York City vs. Upstate) are not among them.
Anyone who says otherwise is merely making excuses to avoid the hard work
necessary to develop a sustainable solution that works for everyone. With each
day that goes by, more and more civic and community leaders recognize the truth
is that our education model is a broken system statewide and needs to be fixed
statewide.
We have been
waiting for an entire generation to resolve the school funding crisis. We should
wait no more. Organize in your community or team up with an organization like taxnightmare.org.
Let your other elected officials, whether they are members of school boards,
town, county or state government, know there is a viable, workable solution for
all of the children of New York and it is worth it. It is Assembly Bill 4746.
It's called the Equity in Education Act. Tell them to make their voices heard in
support for real reform and soon. Together, we can do it.
Please
join Congressman Maurice Hinchey and Assemblyman Kevin Cahill
at a
Reception
Monday,
November 19, 7 to 9pm
Danskoi
Gallery
93
Broadway, Kingston
for
an exhibit of photographs by
Marc
Miller
curated
by Douglas Menuez.
Proceeds
to Benefit 2008 Democratic Candidates
(all
contributions must be from federally permissible funds)
In
this Issue
A
message from Ulster County Democratic Chair John Parete
Democratic
Spring Brunch Announcement
Young
Democrats to Hold First Organizational Meeting
In this issue:
Interview with Andrew Kossover
Chair's Message - John R. Parete, Chair, Ulster County Democratic Committee
Dear Fellow Democrats:
This year, for the first time in many years, voters in Ulster County will have a choice in their candidate for Ulster County District Attorney. The 300 plus members of the Ulster County Democratic Committee, which is comprised of representatives from each of the county’s 20 towns and the City of Kingston, will meet on June 4th to designate their choice for a Democratic candidate. And what a difficult choice it will be.
Each of the three candidates seeking the Democratic designation is extremely well qualified and would bring significant practical and legal experience to the DA’s office. As party chair, I’m delighted that each of these outstanding attorneys, Vincent Bradley Jr., Julian Schreibman, and Jonathan Sennett has decided to seek the Democratic nomination. This is good news.
The fact that we are now receiving so much interest from Democratic candidates for countywide offices shows how much the tide has turned from the days that the other party had a complete lock on our county’s government. This is in addition to the significant upswing in Democratic candidates for town and local office, many of whom won their elections. The renewed interest shows that smart and qualified people now believe we have a fighting chance in these elections and are willing to throw their hats into the arena. Success brings success, and every Democratic voter has played an important role in the reforms that follow Democratic victories.
I urge each of you to visit the DA candidates’ websites and to learn as much as you can about them.
No matter whom we designate, or who our candidate is (if there is a primary election), I am confident that he will be the best qualified and the most able to face the significant challenges that confront the DA’s office.
John Parete, Chair
Ulster County Democratic Committee
Thank you for making the Ulster County Democratic Brunch a Success!
With a standing room only crowd, Democrats and friends from Ulster County and the Hudson Valley gathered on May 6 at Wiltwyck Golf Club for a brunch honoring Congressman Maurice Hinchey. Thank you to everyone who attended, helped, and contributed. Photos of the event are online.
An interview with Andrew Kossover
In 2007, the Ulster Democrat is exploring a number of issues that impact the citizens of our county. These aren’t Democratic issues or Republican issues – they impact all of us, like the weather. Finding creative solutions to these challenges will take the citizens of this county working together so that the area remains a place where we all want to live. In this issue, we ask Andrew Kossover, an attorney and partner in Kossover Law Offices in New Paltz, why it’s important to have a Democratic District Attorney.
What’s
the difference between a Democratic Prosecutor and a Republican one?
AK:
Historically, conservative prosecutors, which are more generally affiliated with
the Republicans, tend to be less flexible in their administration of justice.
Here’s an example of how that can hurt the community, and how it can actually
work against the legal system. Let’s say you have an inflexible plea
bargaining policy, which the current office wears like a badge of honor. The
problem, practically speaking, given the conventions of sentencing guidelines
and other laws applicable to criminal justice, is that defendants who would
otherwise be willing to plead guilty to a charge, wind up going to trial. And
when a case goes to trial it’s possible for such a defendant to be acquitted
because of unanticipated weaknesses or screwups in the case. So a bad guy might
walk who should’ve resolved the case with a plea bargain. This sort of
dogmatic approach can backfire.
What
about in terms of Democratic vs. Republican approaches to social issues?
AK:
Outgoing mayor of New Paltz Jason West provides a good example of how social
agendas can get in the way of good legal policy. When West was pursuing gay
marriages the current republican prosecutor was the only prosecutor in the U.S.
who charged a sitting mayor and clergy with performing same sex marriages.
Democratic and long-term D.A. of New York County, Robert Morgenthau, who was
having clergy performing same sex marriages in New York, told the media that
such matters do not belong in the criminal justice system. Meanwhile Ulster
County’s DA’s office—which like most public agencies is under funded and
under staffed—devoted its limited resources to prosecuting Mayor West and two
members of the clergy only to allow the charges to be dismissed. What was the
point of that?
What
legal issue concerns you most greatly that the new DA will have to tackle and
how do you see a Democrat or Republican attacking it differently?
AK:
First is the so-called War on Drugs. As public defender I have no hesitation to
say that based on my 30 years working in the criminal justice system the war
isn’t working. I would think a Democrat would have alternative preventative
solutions. Republicans since the 1970s have said we should be tougher and
tougher on nonviolent drug offenders, to the point where we now warehouse these
people, we don’t rehabilitate them. Democrats usually try to focus on making a
successful community. That means more than punishing criminals. It means we
don’t turn our backs on them once they return to the streets or we’ll just
see them commit the same offenses. And the problem isn’t going to improve with
the growth we’re experiencing in the Hudson Valley. People are leaving the New
York City area to come here and drugs and gangs are coming right along with
them.
CHAIR’S
MESSAGE - JOHN R. PARETE, CHAIRMAN, ULSTER COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE
As
Spring arrives with full force in the Hudson Valley, we are privileged to have
the opportunity to show our appreciation and to pay tribute to our heroic
Congressman Maurice Hinchey at the 2007 annual Spring Brunch at Wiltwyk Golf
Club on May 6. Four years ago when
Maurice and few other courageous souls in Congress had the fortitude and
foresight to vote against the Iraq War, who could have predicted that Maurice
would have been so thoroughly vindicated by the disastrous course of the Bush
debacle in Iraq? Well, I’ll tell
you who could’ve predicted it—the people of Ulster County who have over and
over again seen our Congressman standing for what is right against all odds and
in the end being right. We’ve
always known that Maurice was a prophetic hero; now, the entire county knows,
and it’s about time.
It
would take much more space that I have here to list all the accomplishments and
all the good that Maurice has done in his over thirty years of service to Ulster
County and to his wider Congressional district.
Maurice has preserved our environment while encouraging sustainable
economic development. Maurice has
cared for the weakest among us while striving to lower the tax burden on the
working men and women in our state. Maurice
has helped any constituent that needed him regardless of political party or
power.
Please help the Democratic Committee make the May 6 brunch the most successful event of its kind in anyone’s memory and show long overdue honor and gratitude to our wonderful Maurice Hinchey.
MARK
YOUR CALENDAR and JOIN YOUR FELLOW DEMOCRATS IN HONORING MAURICE HINCHEY at our
Tribute
to Congressman Maurice Hinchey
Sunday,
May 6, 2007 from Noon to 2pm
At
the Wiltwyck Golf Club, Steward Lane off Lucas Ave, Kingston, NY
Contribution:
$50, Reservations a Must
Call
845 399 9951 or write to Ulster County Democratic Committee,
292C
Fair St, Kingston, NY 12401
(make
checks payable to UCDC)
This
event is always filled to capacity. We are selling out fast. So please make your
reservations early. The best way to secure your reservation is to send your
check to the address above.
YOUNG
DEMOCRATS TO HOLD ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
First
Organizational Meeting of the Newly Formed Ulster County Young Democrats
Join:
Dan Ahouse, District Director, Congressman Hinchey and John Parete, Chair,
Ulster County Democratic Committee
The
momentum is here and the time has come!
Please share this with any and all who are between 16-30 years old.
Sunday,
April 29th, 2-4pm, Rosendale Recreation Center, Route 32, Rosendale
To
talk about issues important to young voters (and pre-voters) and how to increase
participation of this very busy demographic. Light refreshments will be
provided.
RSVP
required: ucyoungdem@gmail.com
In 2007, the Ulster Democrat is
exploring a number of issues that impact the citizens of this county. These
aren’t Democratic issues or Republican issues – they affect all of us, like
the weather. Finding creative solutions to these challenges will take the
citizens of this county working together so that the area remains a place where
we all want (and can afford) to live. No issue is trickier than that of growth,
which is occurring all around us. How do we manage development so that it
doesn’t erode the rural, historical tone of the county, while at the same time
allowing enough growth so that the region’s economy continues to provide jobs
and services? This month, we’re discussing these issues with Toni Hokanson,
supervisor for the town of New Paltz. The primary issue facing New Paltz open
space is the recent ruling by the state supreme court to overturn New Paltz’s
wetlands law, essentially on a technicality.
Hokanson:
The
law protects wetlands as small as one-quarter acre. How it works is pretty
simple. It puts a buffer on town wetlands, and a buffer on Army Corps-designated
wetlands. That last part is unique; the Army Corps doesn’t require the buffer,
but this is actually consistent with New York State law, since the State
Department of Environmental Control does require buffers for DEC wetlands. So if
you own land that borders DEC or Army Corps or town wetlands you need a permit
from the town. But in the 15 months since the law went into effect people have
found that complying is anything but onerous.
First,
the town hired a wetlands inspector, James “Spider” Barbour. Second, any
property holder in town is qualified for a free “short form” visit in which
James will inspect your property, regardless of whether you’re building or
renovating, just so you know about any wetland issues. James is great because he
thoroughly enjoys educating people, not just surveying a property. So he can
tell you about what’s happening environmentally on your property, which a lot
of people love to learn.
For
people who are building, the majority of cases have been easy to resolve; move
your driveway a few feet this way or that way, or alter the design slightly to
lessen the wetlands impact. For the most part it seems people have really
appreciated the peace of mind that comes from these inspections.
As
for the recent ruling, what’s really important to note here is that the court
chose not to attack the validity of the law or advisability of the provisions of
the law or of the extensive environmental review. What the judge did say was
that we were out of compliance with a part of the “regs” that requires towns
to file materials with the county when wetlands laws are passed. His
interpretation of the law is that wetlands law is zoning law; we didn’t se it
that way.
Now
we’re appealing. But we’re also reviewing the law, as we had already planned
to do. Since it was passed, the town Environmental Conservation Commission, town
Planning board and County Board have met three times to talk about some changes
to make anyway. We’ll hold a public hearing and re-enact the law after that
and follow all the procedures. We’ll move as quickly as possible, hopefully
enacting the law within 3 months.
By
the way, it’s important to know that the open space law that passed in the
fall is going forward. We have a draft working and will likely set a public
hearing date in May. We’re currently working on a local a law and funding for
bonding of the land for open space. This includes a scoring criteria. There are
goals to have a variety of areas in different parts of the town designated as
open space with priorities for working farms and lands adjacent to present
preserves so that those corridors are expanded. We also want a multi-partisan
committee, one with people from many walks of life and different experience
levels so that we have many views on open space represented.
A Message
from Governor Eliot Spitzer
Dear
Friends:
This
weekend, the New York legislature passed a budget that achieves the goals we
have all strived toward: health care funding to give all children in New York
State health insurance; aid for the schools that most desperately need it;
relief from the high property taxes that are burdening working families; and
resources to help our communities continue to grow and prosper. While the battle
was not won easily, it produced many great outcomes for the people of this
state. Many newspapers across the state have been supportive, but most notable
are today's editorial pages of The
New York Times and New
York Daily News.
Both
recognize that one of my top priorities as governor has been to expand health
coverage for New Yorkers, while establishing smart financial practices that will
ensure our health care system's stability in years to come. The enacted budget
expands the current Child Health Plus program to cover 400,000 uninsured
children, growth the Times explains
"expands health insurance in ways that could make New York a leader in the
nation." The budget also makes sure that Medicaid dollars follow Medicaid
patients, while fulfilling my commitment to bring the growth in Medicaid costs
under control.
The
budget also provides an historic level of investment in our schools--an increase
of $7 billion in education aid, hailed as an "education bonanza" by
the Daily
News. The new funding will be targeted to districts most in need, with all
districts receiving an increase of at least 3 percent. This aid will be tied
closely to accountability: school districts will have to show that the funds
they receive are producing measurable improvements in the learning environments
of students. Special attention and funding will be given to preschool and
prekindergarten, and the cap on charter schools will be raised. I know that our parents,
teachers and students will rise to the challenges set before them, and make
the most of this historic investment.
We
have also made great strides in easing the tax burden on the families of New
York State, while providing funding for growth in our state's hardest-hit
communities. The budget provides $1.3 billion in property tax relief
targeted toward middle-class homeowners, and is only the first phase of a
three-year plan to provide over $5 billion in tax relief to New York's families.
Also, a greater number of distressed cities, towns, and villages will receive
increases in aid to drive economic development or investments in technology.
Businesses of all sizes will also be helped by substantial targeted tax relief,
benefiting thousands of companies across industries throughout New York State.
These changes will spur development, help our small businesses, and once again
make New York a great place to live and work.
What
we have accomplished here in New York--and that we've accomplished on
time--is no small feat. Nothing we have done would have been possible without
the empowerment of the people of our great state. As always, I welcome your
thoughts on the changes to come. Thank you, again, for your continued
support.
Sincerely,
Eliot
Spitzer
A
Message from our Chair, John Parete
Rochester
Democrats’ Film Series: Why We Fight
St.
Patrick’s Day in Rosendale
It’s
hard to believe that Spring is right around the corner with all the snow still
on the ground. But, Spring to Ulster County Democrats means our Annual Spring
Brunch fundraiser at Wiltwyck Golf Club in Kingston. This year the brunch is something really in a league of its
own because it is a tribute to our distinguished Congressman Maurice Hinchey, in
appreciation and recognition for his great courage, insight, and leadership in
the United States Congress as well as for his years of dedicated service to
Ulster County and the entire Hudson Valley. No member of Congress
has been as accessible to the town and county committees as Maurice has been to
us over the years. We are working
hard to make this event this something extraordinary. Mark your calendars and
help us to do that. (See below for more details.)
Our
first ever family-oriented event for County Democrats took place on February 19
at Skate Time 209 in Accord. We had
a nice turnout and a great time was had by all.
If you’ve never seen Skate Time 209, it’s a worth a trip in itself to
visit this remarkable, family facility. Thanks
to Len and Terry Bernardo of Accord for their hospitality and generosity!
Rochester
Democrats’ Film Series Presents: Why We Fight
First
Tuesday of the Month….
March
6 @ 7 PM…ACCORD FIRE HALL, Main Street, Accord.
Filmed
during the Iraq War, this documentary dissects America's military machine with a
keen eye to answering the question: Why does America engage in war? Through
personal stories of soldiers, government officials, scholars, journalists and
innocent victims, the film examines the political and economic interests and
ideological factors, past and present, behind American militarism. Winner of the
2005 Sundance Grand Jury Award. The
film is free and open to everyone.
St.
Patrick’s Day in Rosendale
Saturday
March 17th from 5-8, come join the Rosendale Democratic Committee for their
annual St. Patrick's Day corned beef and cabbage dinner. There will be live
Traditional Irish music, excellent corned beef and cabbage (potatoes,
carrots...) and fun for the whole family. All this for 10. bucks! At the
Rosendale Community Center on Rt. 32. For more info call 658-8673.
“Campaign
Finance Law: From Soup to Nuts”
Saturday,
March 31, 2007, 10m to 1pm, Boiceville Inn
This
workshop is open to all Democratic Committees and Candidates and is particularly
recommended for new treasurers and first time candidates.
We will address the steps necessary to establish a committee, electronic
filing requirements, and the reporting requirements of the campaign finance law. Reservations are required. Please email: SFraser0326@aol.com
Mark
your calendar and join fellow Democrats in honoring Congressman Maurice Hinchey
at our Annual Spring Brunch.
Tribute
to Congressman Maurice Hinchey
Sunday,
May 6, 2007 from Noon to 2pm
At
the Wiltwyck Golf Club, Steward Lane off Lucas Ave, Kingston, NY
Tickets:
$50, Reservations a Must. Call 845 399 9951 or write to Ulster County Democratic
Committee, 292C Fair St, Kingston, NY (make checks payable to UCDC)
This
event is always at capacity. So make your reservations early.
In
2007, nominations for the State Supreme Court will be selected by judicial
convention as in the past.
The
US Supreme Court has agreed to hear the State's appeal in the Lopez-Torres case.
Pending the appeal, both sides of the case submitted a stipulation to the
District Court to stay the court's order through 2007. The stipulation staying
the court's order was signed today. This means that supreme court candidates
will be nominated by political parties who will be using the judicial
convention process for the 2007 election cycle.
The appeal to the US Supreme Court has been tentatively scheduled for the first
week in October, 2007.
Message from Chair John Parete
This has been an exciting year for Ulster County Democrats! With our statewide ticket overwhelmingly successful here in our County and with victories in Congressional and legislative races throughout the State that went down to the wire, we have witnessed one of the largest victories for New York Democrats ever. It has taken a lot of hard work and energy to get to this point. We must build on past efforts to ensure future successes.
It’s testimony to the strength of the Ulster County Democratic Party that over 40 dedicated members from all over the County braved a cold, snowy Saturday morning and came to Boiceville for our Notary Public Training Seminar. This was the first in what will be a series of workshops on practical tools to build our assets and empower us for the coming important local elections. I thank one and all for attending, and remind each of us that we need more help and more notaries.
The energy and activity being generated at every level are unmistakable. Towns are showing movies and documentaries. Party officials are discussing which community leaders will be candidates. And this is important. We’ve also seen election issues, like the Charter, win due to the work that was done according to a plan. Organize. Have a plan, work the plan, and the plan will work. Planning for what works definitely pays off. And, of course, fund raise.
Our first county fund raising event for 2007 is a Skating Party planned specifically for families and children that will be held at Skate Time 209 on Route 209 in Accord on Sunday, Feb. 18th from 1:30 to 4:30, please see the details below.
Skate
with Democrats!
fun
for the whole family
Roller
Skating
and Skate Boarding Party
Sunday,
February 18th, 1:30 - 4:30 PM
Skate
Time 209, Rte 209 in Accord
ONLY
$7.50 pp,
including skate rental, non-skaters welcome @ $5.00!
(or
$7.50 per person for the skateboard park, helmets required, rentals available)
Refreshments
and lessons available
Free
admission to everyone who collects $25.00 in pledges
Info,
directions, pledge form: www.ulstercountydemocrats.com/SkatingParty.htm
Ulster County Democrats are kicking … well you know what, and taking names! 34,621 Democratic names to be specific! That’s an increase of nearly 2,000 registered Democrats from this time last year. Some may attribute that to a population increase. We attribute it to a public awakening!
Since the November 2006 election, 404 individuals have changed their party affiliation to Democratic. 26% of those 404 are Republicans who have come over from the dark side!!!
A 3,059 voter lead on the Republican Party isn’t bad, but we can do better. Contact Stuart Fraser at the Ulster County Board of Elections for voter registration cards at 334-5429. Have a registration drive in your neighborhood. Recruit new voters and bring those that have not yet seen the light out of darkness. Can I get an Amen?!
In 2007, the Ulster Democrat will explore a number of issues that impact the citizens of this county. These aren’t Democratic issues or Republican issues – they impact all of us, like the weather. Finding creative solutions to these challenges will take the citizens of this county working together so that the area remains a place where we all want (and can afford) to live. No issue is trickier than that of growth, which is occurring all around us. How do we manage growth so that it doesn’t erode the rural, historical tone of the county, while at the same time allowing enough growth so that the region’s economy continues to provide jobs and services? To find out more about that challenge, we interviewed Vin Martello, supervisor for the town of Marbletown and vice chairman of the Ulster County association of supervisors and mayors.
First, you have to recognize that it’s not “if” growth and development are going to happen; they’re happening. So you have to ask, ‘How do we want this to happen? What do we need to do to help us deal with the impact of growth?’ The first thing we realized was that the planning and zoning boards just needed to go back to school, so we did workshops on planning and zoning law, on land use, on landscape architecture, on state regulations.
The next step was to institute a state-of-the-art subdivision approval process that requires developers to inventory natural resources and land features rather than just bulldoze them, and in a development site of more than five homes, preserve a minimum of 50% of the area as natural.
At the same time that was happening, we wanted to have a better understanding of the resources within the town as a whole so we did an inventory of significant natural resources, of prime agricultural soils, of extant farms, of aquifers and how best to protect them, of our biodiversity, and this was funded by grants—at no cost to the town.
And we also wanted to work with other towns in the area so that the entire region along the Ridge would have a scenic quality. So, along with the Town of Rochester we have a $500,000 grant for a comprehensive study of the Rte. 209 corridor from Hurley down to Ellenville. Our goal isn’t just a thoroughfare, but a destination with unique character similar to Vermont’s Rte 7.
In keeping with all of these agendas and studies is the effort to help preserve the land you have, the farms you have. Which is why we needed a way to raise money locally (with the recently passed referendum) so that local, multi-generational farmers would be able to sell development rights back to the region and the state rather than to developers. You might wonder why you can’t just get the Open Space Institute or Scenic Hudson to buy these rights; the reason is they want to see communities take a local interest in investing and preserving these farms and in the past two years there wasn’t a single applicant in Ulster County who was able to get this kind of funding. But when the Town of Warwick in Orange County put its own money behind buying development rights they began to get state and non-profits investing in development rights as well.
It’s also important to realize that you must couple open space, development rights and so forth with intelligent zoning and sub-division changes because it shows these organizations that you’re serious about having a town that’s attractive and its lands are well managed. If you want evidence again look at Warwick, where they’ve received these funds and where, as a result, property values are rising more rapidly than in the surrounding towns.
There’s something else, too: We’re talking about smart growth. When we sat down with large developers they were honest with us. They said that they’d much rather work for a town, do it in a manner that’s in keeping with the ethos of the town and to work on these projects together because otherwise nobody’s happy. But they also said that if a town didn’t have a unified approach they’d come in and just do it as cheaply as possible. And that’s what we’re dealing with; we have a very narrow window. Now is the time when development pressure is pushing north and we can deal with it intelligently to preserve the rural character, manage the infrastructure, services and schools that will all need to be addressed or we can suffer the shock of going from a semi-rural environment to a suburban one overnight. The shock of the latter is what we should all be trying to avoid.
In
this issue:
A
Message from our Chair, John Parete
Don’t
Forget Paul Van Blarcum’s Swearing In Today
+
Democrats at Skate Time 209 - Fun
for the Whole Family
January
Democratic Town Committee Meetings
MESSAGE
FROM OUR CHAIR, JOHN PARETE
Along with triumphant campaigns comes the acknowledgment that it’s impossible
to name everyone who committed time, money, and energy to winning all the
elections that took place on November 7. However,
a heartfelt thanks goes out to each and every person who worked so hard to bring
about the tremendous victories we applauded on election night.
The victory of the Charter and the historic transformation of Ulster County’s
government will be felt by every family in the years to come: lowering taxes,
increasing administration efficiency, and making the County more competitive for
economic development.
In 2007 let us continue to celebrate the significant gains we’ve made by
working together as dedicated Democrats, bringing our message of better
government and public service to our families, our friends, the media, the
Internet, and the streets.
With
best wishes for the New Year.
John Parete, Chair
Ulster County Democratic Committee
SHERIFF
PAUL VAN BLARCUM’S SWEARING IN
We
invite you to join us at the swearing in of Paul Van Blarcum as Ulster County
Sheriff this afternoon (January 1st) at 2:00 at Hillside Manor on Route 32 in
Kingston. The ceremony will be
followed by a reception hosted by Paul.
Democrats
at Skate Time 209 – Fun for the Whole Family!
Ulster
County Democrats to Host Roller Skating and Skateboarding Party at Skate Time
209
We’re
pleased to announce that we’re hosting our first ever Roller Skating and Skate
Boarding Party on Sunday, February 18th from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm at Skate Time
209 in Accord, Ulster County's newest and hottest family entertainment venue.
Admission is $7.50 per person, including skate rental or $7.50 per person
for the skateboard park. General
admission for non-skaters is 5:00 per person.
We’re also offering free admission to everyone who collects $25.00 in
pledges. For more information and for a downloadable pledge form,
click onto: www.ulstercountydemocrats.com/SkatingParty.htm
The
Ulster County Democratic Committee is offering a free class on becoming a New
York State Notary Public on Saturday, January 27th at 10:00 am Ulster County
Democratic Headquarters at 292 Fairs Street in Kingston.
Breakfast will be served. The
three-hour class will go over the basis information needed in order to pass the
State-administered exam. Why are we
doing this? Notaries Public are
able to witness signatures of members of other parties during the election
petition process. This helps us get
our candidates cross-endorsed and gets their names on other ballot lines.
We recommend that each Town committee have at least two notaries.
Please RSVP to Stuart Fraser at 626-5223 or Zali Win at 626-3285 (RochesterDems@aol.com)
ELECTION
2006
As everyone knows by now, the Democrats scored huge gains all over the country,
and particularly here in New York State with the election of Democrats to all
top state offices including the re-election of Hillary Clinton, and the pick-up
of three seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. We also re-elected Democrat
and Ulster County resident Karen Peters and elected Democrat Gus Devine of
Albany to the Supreme Court. Our great Congressman, Maurice Hinchey, coasted to
a well-deserved victory and eighth term in the House without even facing an
opponent. Assemblyman Cahill also
ran unopposed and will begin his sixth term in January, representing most of
Ulster County (the lucky part) in Albany. Judge
Peters garnered the most votes of all candidates in Ulster County, even topping
Eliot Spitzer’s tally.
Perhaps, the biggest news locally was the stunning victory of Paul Van Blarcum
over his Republican opponent, Kevin Costello.
After all the votes were counted, Paul won by over 17,000 votes to gain
61% of all votes cast. Paul won the
City of Kingston and every town in the county except Shawangunk and Marlboro.
The sheriff’s race was, perhaps, one of the most expensive races in Ulster
County history with both candidates spending over $100,000.
Turnout County wide was 58%, which is typical for a gubernatorial year. Both the
Democrats and the Republicans turned out 61% of their voters, with 20,013
Republicans and 21,748 Democrats going to the polls on Nov. 7.
Democratic turnout by town ranged from a high of 76% in Woodstock to a
low of 49% in Wawarsing. Democratic
turnout by town was as follows:
City of Kingston 60%
New Paltz
57%
Denning
61%
Olive
71%
Esopus 68%
Plattekill
50%
Gardiner
70%
Rochester
64%
Hardenburgh
64%
Rosendale
70%
Hurley
72%
Saugerties
66%
Kingston