Say it to my face!
I love rumors when they are about me; I hope this one is not true. I have many friends in this town and I thank all of you for that. There is an old sports saying “not in our house” and you are making a mistake so unless you are willing to say it to my face you better stop right now because I can fight better than you and just as dirty too. Take this as a warning and the next person that tells me you said something about me or my family is very prepared for the long battle! Remember I was elected by the people and everywhere I go people thank me for standing up for them and doing what is right for the people! You know who you are so if you not want a public fight and want me to hang out your dirty laundry about you and your family STOP RIGHT NOW!
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Go Charlie!
August 30, 2005
Blooming Grove and taxes
By Charles Bohan
The only message received by the residents of the Town of Blooming Grove from Mr. Quinton's Aug. 16 "My View" is dismay with his failure to differentiate between village and town government. This "candidate" exemplifies his lack of knowledge of the taxing authority of the school, town and village while attempting to say he has a "business plan."
Mr. Quinton laments about his disappearing taxes but neglects to acknowledge the increased costs of police protection, both village and town, road maintenance, including snow removal, parks and grounds as well as community recreational facilities and senior citizen programs. And I am pleased to have finally made Dial a Bus a reality for our residents.
Under my leadership, Blooming Grove has benefited from federal and state grants. In addition, much needed funding for individual areas throughout Blooming Grove has been successfully obtained to assist in the alleviation of a severe sewage problem in Mount Lodge, and the rebuilding of the Tappan Hill waste treatment plant.
On April 4 of this year, Little League was all but canceled due to flooding and washed out facilities. Yet, within 10 days, the fields were rebuilt and graded with little or no interruption. The great expense of accomplishing this was initially borne by the town, but eventually recovered by timely FEMA filing and disaster declaration.
I am pleased to have brought back fiscal accountability to Blooming Grove and will not forget the grand larceny perpetrated on our town treasury some four years ago. Having listened to repeated accusations over the last four years, I have requested state Comptroller Alan Hevesi to reopen the original inquiry and perform a much overdue forensic audit to fully account for the discrepancies.
Perhaps when this is completed, Mr. Quinton, along with all residents of Blooming Grove, will come to know where his taxes went!
Charles Bohan is the supervisor in the Town of Blooming Grove.
Blooming Grove and taxes
By Charles Bohan
The only message received by the residents of the Town of Blooming Grove from Mr. Quinton's Aug. 16 "My View" is dismay with his failure to differentiate between village and town government. This "candidate" exemplifies his lack of knowledge of the taxing authority of the school, town and village while attempting to say he has a "business plan."
Mr. Quinton laments about his disappearing taxes but neglects to acknowledge the increased costs of police protection, both village and town, road maintenance, including snow removal, parks and grounds as well as community recreational facilities and senior citizen programs. And I am pleased to have finally made Dial a Bus a reality for our residents.
Under my leadership, Blooming Grove has benefited from federal and state grants. In addition, much needed funding for individual areas throughout Blooming Grove has been successfully obtained to assist in the alleviation of a severe sewage problem in Mount Lodge, and the rebuilding of the Tappan Hill waste treatment plant.
On April 4 of this year, Little League was all but canceled due to flooding and washed out facilities. Yet, within 10 days, the fields were rebuilt and graded with little or no interruption. The great expense of accomplishing this was initially borne by the town, but eventually recovered by timely FEMA filing and disaster declaration.
I am pleased to have brought back fiscal accountability to Blooming Grove and will not forget the grand larceny perpetrated on our town treasury some four years ago. Having listened to repeated accusations over the last four years, I have requested state Comptroller Alan Hevesi to reopen the original inquiry and perform a much overdue forensic audit to fully account for the discrepancies.
Perhaps when this is completed, Mr. Quinton, along with all residents of Blooming Grove, will come to know where his taxes went!
Charles Bohan is the supervisor in the Town of Blooming Grove.
Monday, August 29, 2005
Time to rant
Election 2005
Well it’s that time again and this year we have a three way race for Town Council. We can only vote for two and who will it be? We are back to the 2001 where signs are being stolen, people taking sides and everyone thinking they are right! Wow that all I can say one issues splits a town and who will win. I am watching this one now and can’t wait to see the results of who gets the most votes. This will only help ego’s get bigger for either side and that’s what we need bigger heads when we need a vision for the future. The things I love about elections is that everyone forgets about the past and how they where against so and so and would never support this one, but four years later no one remembers who and why they where for this one or against that one. Oh well now lets see what happens I like the rest have to pick two, then 8 weeks later pick again. The real race will be for Supervisor, this time around it’s a candidate with a resume of leadership and that race starts September 14th.
Well it’s that time again and this year we have a three way race for Town Council. We can only vote for two and who will it be? We are back to the 2001 where signs are being stolen, people taking sides and everyone thinking they are right! Wow that all I can say one issues splits a town and who will win. I am watching this one now and can’t wait to see the results of who gets the most votes. This will only help ego’s get bigger for either side and that’s what we need bigger heads when we need a vision for the future. The things I love about elections is that everyone forgets about the past and how they where against so and so and would never support this one, but four years later no one remembers who and why they where for this one or against that one. Oh well now lets see what happens I like the rest have to pick two, then 8 weeks later pick again. The real race will be for Supervisor, this time around it’s a candidate with a resume of leadership and that race starts September 14th.
Save Monroe , How?
SaveMonroe primary challengers
By Bill Lemanski
MONROE-This political campaign season will include an interesting mix of primary election challengers from the grass-roots organization, SaveMonroe.
The contest is for town supervisor and two town board seats on both the Republican and Democratic lines in the Town of Monroe in the Sept. 13 primary election. The SaveMonroe team also scored a coup by capturing the endorsement and pursuing the ballot line of the Conservative Party, which has historically supported the incumbent Republicans.
Vying for the supervisor's position on the Democratic ballot line against the Democrat's endorsed candidate, Alicia Vaccaro, is Robert Purdy, a 28-year town resident who is president of SaveMonroe. Purdy is a registered Democrat and has been active in labor relations as a member of I.U.O.E. Local 891. He is a former Marine and member of American Legion Post 1088, is married with three children and has never held public office.
Purdy said he is concerned with what he claims is the uncontrolled growth and congestion in Monroe. He said the current board has not effectively addressed the issues of "massive traffic, uncontrolled growth and loss of open space." He believes school taxes are too high and the present town board has catered to special interest groups while growing complacent with town problems. He said his focus will be on "protecting the quality of life in Monroe" and that he would include town citizens to a higher degree in the decision-making process.
Incumbent Monroe Town Supervisor Sandy Leonard is the Republican candidate.
Theresa Budich and Kathy Parrella, both registered Republicans, are challenging longtime incumbent town board members, incumbents and Republican-endorsed Don Weeks and Peter Martin in a GOP primary.
Budich has been a member of the Monroe-Woodbury School Board for 11 years. She also is past president of the Special Education PTA and is on the board of SaveMonroe. A town resident for 21 years, Budich and her husband have four children. She works in the real-estate business.
"People need to take responsibility and our current board doesn't want to," Budich said. As an example, she said that Meadow Glen, a former undeveloped meadow on Larkin Drive, was re-zoned by the board from light industry to residential. She claims that the rezoning has reduced the ratable value of the property.
Parrella has been a town resident for nearly 25 years. Although she has never held public office, Parrella has been active in civic affairs as co-founder of The Preservation Collective, a community planning organization, and as a member of the board of directors of Orange Environment, Inc.
She said she shares her colleagues' view of uncontrolled growth in the Monroe area.
Parrella is married, has two children and is an information technology professional, specializing in project management and systems integration.
The team's platform states that the candidates "promote smart and sustainable growth;" support "protecting the Town and its residents;" support bringing services up to 2005 standards;" and seek to "stabilize property taxes."
The SaveMonroe organization has been in existence for approximately six years and has a membership of between 150 to 160 residents.
tion's mission statement is "dedicated to preserving as much open space as possible, ensuring that codes and zoning are put in place and enforced, and keeping its members informed of important issues."
Print this story
By Bill Lemanski
MONROE-This political campaign season will include an interesting mix of primary election challengers from the grass-roots organization, SaveMonroe.
The contest is for town supervisor and two town board seats on both the Republican and Democratic lines in the Town of Monroe in the Sept. 13 primary election. The SaveMonroe team also scored a coup by capturing the endorsement and pursuing the ballot line of the Conservative Party, which has historically supported the incumbent Republicans.
Vying for the supervisor's position on the Democratic ballot line against the Democrat's endorsed candidate, Alicia Vaccaro, is Robert Purdy, a 28-year town resident who is president of SaveMonroe. Purdy is a registered Democrat and has been active in labor relations as a member of I.U.O.E. Local 891. He is a former Marine and member of American Legion Post 1088, is married with three children and has never held public office.
Purdy said he is concerned with what he claims is the uncontrolled growth and congestion in Monroe. He said the current board has not effectively addressed the issues of "massive traffic, uncontrolled growth and loss of open space." He believes school taxes are too high and the present town board has catered to special interest groups while growing complacent with town problems. He said his focus will be on "protecting the quality of life in Monroe" and that he would include town citizens to a higher degree in the decision-making process.
Incumbent Monroe Town Supervisor Sandy Leonard is the Republican candidate.
Theresa Budich and Kathy Parrella, both registered Republicans, are challenging longtime incumbent town board members, incumbents and Republican-endorsed Don Weeks and Peter Martin in a GOP primary.
Budich has been a member of the Monroe-Woodbury School Board for 11 years. She also is past president of the Special Education PTA and is on the board of SaveMonroe. A town resident for 21 years, Budich and her husband have four children. She works in the real-estate business.
"People need to take responsibility and our current board doesn't want to," Budich said. As an example, she said that Meadow Glen, a former undeveloped meadow on Larkin Drive, was re-zoned by the board from light industry to residential. She claims that the rezoning has reduced the ratable value of the property.
Parrella has been a town resident for nearly 25 years. Although she has never held public office, Parrella has been active in civic affairs as co-founder of The Preservation Collective, a community planning organization, and as a member of the board of directors of Orange Environment, Inc.
She said she shares her colleagues' view of uncontrolled growth in the Monroe area.
Parrella is married, has two children and is an information technology professional, specializing in project management and systems integration.
The team's platform states that the candidates "promote smart and sustainable growth;" support "protecting the Town and its residents;" support bringing services up to 2005 standards;" and seek to "stabilize property taxes."
The SaveMonroe organization has been in existence for approximately six years and has a membership of between 150 to 160 residents.
tion's mission statement is "dedicated to preserving as much open space as possible, ensuring that codes and zoning are put in place and enforced, and keeping its members informed of important issues."
Print this story
I may have to attend this one
Attorney General Eliot Spitzer will speak at an Orange County Democratic Committee fundraiser at 6 p.m. Sept. 7 at the Meadowbrook Lodge on Route 94 in New Windsor. Tickets are $50 to $500. Call 567-6778.
His View
August 11, 2005
Misinformation clouds Woodbury housing project
By Jonathan Swiller
In a truly astonishing display of misinformation, Ralph Caruso, an aide to state Sen. Bill Larkin, produced a "My View" (July 29) titled "Who's fooling whom on Woodbury housing projects?"
The central theme of the piece is the supposed demand by a developer for a rezone to high-density in order to realize excessive profits. And, as Caruso, head of the Woodbury Zoning Board of Appeals, should know, every part of this theme runs counter to the facts.
The "high density" he speaks of comes to an average of just over one house per acre.
This compares quite favorably to Caruso's own home, which sits on less than half an acre and which, I am certain, he would never describe as high-density.
Caruso claims that a rezone is not permitted, while, in fact, the town's master plan specifically says that this property can be granted three-quarter-acre to 1-acre zoning if water and sewer are made available – precisely the condition that the developer is offering to meet.
But it is when Caruso writes about the cost of the land to the developer that his piece is most misleading. He uses the price already paid for one portion of the land to extrapolate the future cost for the remaining, larger portion. Employing such phrases as "based on the purchase price" (of the original acreage), he comes up with a totally unrealistic number for the projected cost of the total acreage.
Caruso could just as easily say "based on the selling price of Alaskan tundra, the developer would only pay 10 cents an acre." He is well aware that the initial purchase was made two years ago and that the subsequent purchase of the neighboring ACE Farms property by the development arm of Kiryas Joel has created a bidding war for the remaining property, making the price of the earlier purchase irrelevant. And yet he bases all his projections of cost and profit on this meaningless number.
The project under discussion has pluses and minuses. It must be judged on its own merits. But there is no way that the public can make an informed judgment as long as they are handed such misinformation.
There are many roads to the truth, but Caruso wishes to lead us down a cul de sac. He has convincingly answered his own question: "Who's fooling whom on Woodbury housing projects"?
Jonathan Swiller of Highland Mills is chairman, SOCA at Work.
Misinformation clouds Woodbury housing project
By Jonathan Swiller
In a truly astonishing display of misinformation, Ralph Caruso, an aide to state Sen. Bill Larkin, produced a "My View" (July 29) titled "Who's fooling whom on Woodbury housing projects?"
The central theme of the piece is the supposed demand by a developer for a rezone to high-density in order to realize excessive profits. And, as Caruso, head of the Woodbury Zoning Board of Appeals, should know, every part of this theme runs counter to the facts.
The "high density" he speaks of comes to an average of just over one house per acre.
This compares quite favorably to Caruso's own home, which sits on less than half an acre and which, I am certain, he would never describe as high-density.
Caruso claims that a rezone is not permitted, while, in fact, the town's master plan specifically says that this property can be granted three-quarter-acre to 1-acre zoning if water and sewer are made available – precisely the condition that the developer is offering to meet.
But it is when Caruso writes about the cost of the land to the developer that his piece is most misleading. He uses the price already paid for one portion of the land to extrapolate the future cost for the remaining, larger portion. Employing such phrases as "based on the purchase price" (of the original acreage), he comes up with a totally unrealistic number for the projected cost of the total acreage.
Caruso could just as easily say "based on the selling price of Alaskan tundra, the developer would only pay 10 cents an acre." He is well aware that the initial purchase was made two years ago and that the subsequent purchase of the neighboring ACE Farms property by the development arm of Kiryas Joel has created a bidding war for the remaining property, making the price of the earlier purchase irrelevant. And yet he bases all his projections of cost and profit on this meaningless number.
The project under discussion has pluses and minuses. It must be judged on its own merits. But there is no way that the public can make an informed judgment as long as they are handed such misinformation.
There are many roads to the truth, but Caruso wishes to lead us down a cul de sac. He has convincingly answered his own question: "Who's fooling whom on Woodbury housing projects"?
Jonathan Swiller of Highland Mills is chairman, SOCA at Work.
Friday, August 26, 2005
Close the Camp
Diana meets with New York City officials regarding Camp LaGuardia
Orange County Executive Edward Diana and Acting County Attorney David Darwin today met with New York City Commissioner of Homeless Services Linda Gibbs, Mayor Bloomberg’s Chief of Staff Peter Madonia and General Counsel Clarke Bruno to discuss issues of concern to Orange County and local municipalities with respect to Camp LaGuardia in Chester, NY.
“We had a productive meeting this morning with key officials from the City of New York Mayor’s Office and the New York City Department of Homeless Services at which time we discussed a number of important issues with respect to the operation of Camp LaGuardia,” said Diana. “I am optimistic this meeting will result in a positive outcome for the communities located near Camp LaGuardia. This is the beginning of a meaningful and open dialog between Orange County and New York City.”
The City of New York and the County of Orange have agreed to continue the discussions started today.
Orange County Executive Edward Diana and Acting County Attorney David Darwin today met with New York City Commissioner of Homeless Services Linda Gibbs, Mayor Bloomberg’s Chief of Staff Peter Madonia and General Counsel Clarke Bruno to discuss issues of concern to Orange County and local municipalities with respect to Camp LaGuardia in Chester, NY.
“We had a productive meeting this morning with key officials from the City of New York Mayor’s Office and the New York City Department of Homeless Services at which time we discussed a number of important issues with respect to the operation of Camp LaGuardia,” said Diana. “I am optimistic this meeting will result in a positive outcome for the communities located near Camp LaGuardia. This is the beginning of a meaningful and open dialog between Orange County and New York City.”
The City of New York and the County of Orange have agreed to continue the discussions started today.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Warwick does it again
Town adds Mabee Farm to protected property
WARWICK-The Mabee farm has been in the family for three generations, going back to 1921. Last week, Raymond and Carol Mabee ensured that the land would stay just as it is - open and green - for many generations to come.
The Town of Warwick and The Scenic Hudson Land Trust closed last week on the development rights to the 74-acre farm, located on Lower Wisner Road in Bellvale. The total cost was $477,300, with the state contributing $259,113, Scenic Hudson chipping in $59,662.50 and the town giving $158,524.50 from its own Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) fund.
The farm is traversed by the Long House Creek and sits on one of the largest underground aquifers in Orange County, according to Warwick Town Supervisor Michael Sweeton.
"This aquifer supplies many homes in our valley as well as containing the wells that serve the Village of Warwick," Sweeton said.
This farm connects two portions of the already-preserved farm of Al and Judy Buckbee, bringing the total of preserved farmland in Bellvale to more than 500 acres. With two large subdivisions in the planning process — BCM and The Gables totaling 60 homes, and Foxwood Estates adding another 14 homes — preserving this farmland in this tiny hamlet of about 100 homes is sure to make many residents happy.
Ray Mabee was born and raised in Warwick. He learned to live by his parents' example, said Sweeton, notably their hard work, practical minds and love of the land and their animals. Mabee sold off his dairy cows four years ago, but continues to produce hay for other farmers. It was at the urging of his two daughters that Mabee sold off the development rights of the farm, saying they never wanted the farm growing houses instead of hay.
"The farm has exceptional soils — 66 acres of farmland of statewide importance and six acres of prime farmland," said Cari Watkins-Bates, farmland protection manager for Scenic Hudson. "In addition, natural and scenic resources associated with and complimentary to the agriculture assets of the property have also been protected. As the town notes — this farm is an integral property to complimentary farmland protection efforts in the area."
A town-wide referendum in 2000 gave the town the go-ahead to purchase the development rights to properties in an effort to maintain open space. Voters approved $9.5 million of town funds for this purpose. The Greenwood Lake/Tuxedo School District, which has no farmland, is receiving 24 percent, Florida is slated for 14 percent and Warwick gets the remaining 62 percent. The town has already purchased a ball field and a 2.9 acre lakefront property in Greenwood Lake, which opened in July 2004 as a new town beach.
The town's PDR program so far has preserved seven farms, a total of more than 850 acres of farmland, in the Town of Warwick. Five others are in the process of preservation, including the Brown and Brady properties, bringing the total acreage up to 2,300.
WARWICK-The Mabee farm has been in the family for three generations, going back to 1921. Last week, Raymond and Carol Mabee ensured that the land would stay just as it is - open and green - for many generations to come.
The Town of Warwick and The Scenic Hudson Land Trust closed last week on the development rights to the 74-acre farm, located on Lower Wisner Road in Bellvale. The total cost was $477,300, with the state contributing $259,113, Scenic Hudson chipping in $59,662.50 and the town giving $158,524.50 from its own Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) fund.
The farm is traversed by the Long House Creek and sits on one of the largest underground aquifers in Orange County, according to Warwick Town Supervisor Michael Sweeton.
"This aquifer supplies many homes in our valley as well as containing the wells that serve the Village of Warwick," Sweeton said.
This farm connects two portions of the already-preserved farm of Al and Judy Buckbee, bringing the total of preserved farmland in Bellvale to more than 500 acres. With two large subdivisions in the planning process — BCM and The Gables totaling 60 homes, and Foxwood Estates adding another 14 homes — preserving this farmland in this tiny hamlet of about 100 homes is sure to make many residents happy.
Ray Mabee was born and raised in Warwick. He learned to live by his parents' example, said Sweeton, notably their hard work, practical minds and love of the land and their animals. Mabee sold off his dairy cows four years ago, but continues to produce hay for other farmers. It was at the urging of his two daughters that Mabee sold off the development rights of the farm, saying they never wanted the farm growing houses instead of hay.
"The farm has exceptional soils — 66 acres of farmland of statewide importance and six acres of prime farmland," said Cari Watkins-Bates, farmland protection manager for Scenic Hudson. "In addition, natural and scenic resources associated with and complimentary to the agriculture assets of the property have also been protected. As the town notes — this farm is an integral property to complimentary farmland protection efforts in the area."
A town-wide referendum in 2000 gave the town the go-ahead to purchase the development rights to properties in an effort to maintain open space. Voters approved $9.5 million of town funds for this purpose. The Greenwood Lake/Tuxedo School District, which has no farmland, is receiving 24 percent, Florida is slated for 14 percent and Warwick gets the remaining 62 percent. The town has already purchased a ball field and a 2.9 acre lakefront property in Greenwood Lake, which opened in July 2004 as a new town beach.
The town's PDR program so far has preserved seven farms, a total of more than 850 acres of farmland, in the Town of Warwick. Five others are in the process of preservation, including the Brown and Brady properties, bringing the total acreage up to 2,300.
It was just a few years ago
December 22, 2001
Woodbury OKs law to limit growth
By Chris McKenna
The Times Herald-Record
cmckenna@th-record.com
Woodbury – There will still be more cars and school kids. But maybe not as many.
The Town Board has decided after more than a year of deliberation to limit development by requiring that homes be built on larger lots – a minimum of three acres in much of the southern Orange County town.
"The purpose of this law is to mitigate development in this town," Councilman John Keleman said Thursday night before a 4-1 vote in support of new zoning.
Keleman said the law was needed to address booming enrollment in Monroe-Woodbury School District and heavy traffic on Route 32, the two-lane thoroughfare in Woodbury.
"I think this is a very, very important law," he said. "It touches many quality-of-life issues in this town."
Until now, Woodbury's zoning rules allowed new home lots of one or two acres in most parts of town. That will rise to three acres except in places with access to municipal sewer service, where the minimum lot size will be two acres.
The new zoning will not apply to projects that have received preliminary approval from the Planning Board. Sheila Conroy, supervisor-elect and chairwoman of the Planning Board, said Thursday night that she knows of six such projects.
Councilman Henry Dobson voted against the law. He said he objected to the board voting before three new members take office in January.
Woodbury OKs law to limit growth
By Chris McKenna
The Times Herald-Record
cmckenna@th-record.com
Woodbury – There will still be more cars and school kids. But maybe not as many.
The Town Board has decided after more than a year of deliberation to limit development by requiring that homes be built on larger lots – a minimum of three acres in much of the southern Orange County town.
"The purpose of this law is to mitigate development in this town," Councilman John Keleman said Thursday night before a 4-1 vote in support of new zoning.
Keleman said the law was needed to address booming enrollment in Monroe-Woodbury School District and heavy traffic on Route 32, the two-lane thoroughfare in Woodbury.
"I think this is a very, very important law," he said. "It touches many quality-of-life issues in this town."
Until now, Woodbury's zoning rules allowed new home lots of one or two acres in most parts of town. That will rise to three acres except in places with access to municipal sewer service, where the minimum lot size will be two acres.
The new zoning will not apply to projects that have received preliminary approval from the Planning Board. Sheila Conroy, supervisor-elect and chairwoman of the Planning Board, said Thursday night that she knows of six such projects.
Councilman Henry Dobson voted against the law. He said he objected to the board voting before three new members take office in January.
When will this plan be done?
Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee Meeting
August 25, 2OO5 at 6:30 P.M.
Town Hall, 511 Rt. 32, Highland Mills
6:30 P.M.: Welcome
• Review of Agenda
• Review of August 10, 2005 Meeting Notes
6:45 P.M.: Preliminary Draft Comprehensive Plan
• Comments on the draft
• Recommend modifying parcels in LC (to CR) on Rt. 32
9:45 P.M. : Schedule
• Remaining Advisory Committee Meetings
• Draft Comprehensive Plan
• Final Comprehensive Plan
• Public Hearing
• Final Meeting: Resolution forwarding Plan to the Town Board
10:00 P.M. Adjourn
August 25, 2OO5 at 6:30 P.M.
Town Hall, 511 Rt. 32, Highland Mills
6:30 P.M.: Welcome
• Review of Agenda
• Review of August 10, 2005 Meeting Notes
6:45 P.M.: Preliminary Draft Comprehensive Plan
• Comments on the draft
• Recommend modifying parcels in LC (to CR) on Rt. 32
9:45 P.M. : Schedule
• Remaining Advisory Committee Meetings
• Draft Comprehensive Plan
• Final Comprehensive Plan
• Public Hearing
• Final Meeting: Resolution forwarding Plan to the Town Board
10:00 P.M. Adjourn
Monday, August 22, 2005
Now What?
Home prices: Heading for a decline?
Local housing market extremely overvalued'
By Michael Levensohn
Times Herald-Record
mlevensohn@th-record.com
Home prices in Orange, Dutchess and Ulster counties are "extremely overvalued," and at high risk for a fall, according to an economist's study published last week.
Richard DeKaser, chief economist of National City Corp., a Cleveland bank, studied first-quarter housing prices in 299 metro areas that represent 80 percent of the U.S. housing market.
Both the Orange-Dutchess county area (37 percent overvalued) and Ulster County (32 percent overvalued) were among the 53 regions deemed "extremely overvalued" and therefore most vulnerable to a price decline.
DeKaser calls an area extremely overvalued if prices are 30 percent higher than what he calculates as a fair value based on average household income, interest rates, housing density and historical prices.
The study confirms something folks around here have long suspected.
"A person who works in Orange County can't afford to live here," said Steve Chewens, broker/owner of Chewens and Associates Real Estate in Chester.
Chewens and other real estate agents have seen an increase lately in price reductions on home listings, as well as listings that expire without a sale, evidence that the balance of power in the region's long-running seller's market has begun to shift.
DeKaser's study suggests there's a strong likelihood that the shift could turn into a full-fledged bear market, with home prices in the mid-Hudson going backward.
Over the past 20 years, he found 63 corrections, instances where a market's median price fell 10 percent or more over a period of at least eight quarters.
The typical degree of overvaluation in those cases was 30 percent.
"How many went that high without a correction?" said DeKaser. "Zero."
Of course, past performance doesn't guarantee future results. But it does suggest that prices are due for a fall.
"A little air could be let out of the bubble without it being a cataclysmic event," DeKaser said.
From 1985 to 2005, the typical decline in a correction was 17 percent. The typical duration of the down cycle was 13 quarters, according to the study.
The Orange-Dutchess area holds the dubious distinction of having suffered through the longest correction of the 63 DeKaser identified – a bear market that stretched from the first quarter of 1988 to the first quarter of 1995 and saw prices drop 13 percent.
Ulster County's most recent bear market was an 18 percent decline between the fourth quarter of 1992 to the first quarter of 1995.
Behind the numbers
Economist Richard DeKaser studied first-quarter 2005 housing prices in 299 metro areas and identified 53 where the median sale price for single-family homes was at least 30 percent higher than expected.
For instance, during the first quarter of 2005, the median sale price for single-family homes in the Orange-Dutchess area was $265,845, while DeKaser's pricing model yielded an expected median of $193,429.
The Kingston area's median sale price was $196,203, compared with a modeled price of $148,183.
The sale numbers are drawn from federal data tracking repeat sales of existing homes. This method provides a better barometer of the change in an individual home's value, because, unlike board of Realtors' data, it isn't skewed by relatively pricey new construction.
According to the Orange County Association of Realtors, the median sale price of single-family homes in Orange was $299,000 during the first quarter, up 15 percent from the first quarter of 2004. In Ulster County, the first quarter median was $228,000 up 21.3 percent from a year before.
Think home prices are high here?
Check out California.
Of 53 "extremely overvalued" housing markets identified by economist Richard DeKaser, 25 are located in The Golden State. Leading the pack is Santa Barbara, with its median sale price of $564,100 overvalued by 69 percent.
Of the top 20 overheated markets, 16 are in California, with two in Florida and one in Massachusetts and in Oregon.
New York's most overvalued market is Nassau-Suffolk (ranked 29th at 42 percent), followed by Orange-Dutchess (37th at 37 percent) and Ulster (45th at 32 percent).
The New York City region, which includes the five boroughs plus six surrounding counties, ranked 68th, at 25 percent overvalued.
Buffalo, Syracuse, Binghamton and Rochester are all undervalued, according to DeKaser's report.
Local housing market extremely overvalued'
By Michael Levensohn
Times Herald-Record
mlevensohn@th-record.com
Home prices in Orange, Dutchess and Ulster counties are "extremely overvalued," and at high risk for a fall, according to an economist's study published last week.
Richard DeKaser, chief economist of National City Corp., a Cleveland bank, studied first-quarter housing prices in 299 metro areas that represent 80 percent of the U.S. housing market.
Both the Orange-Dutchess county area (37 percent overvalued) and Ulster County (32 percent overvalued) were among the 53 regions deemed "extremely overvalued" and therefore most vulnerable to a price decline.
DeKaser calls an area extremely overvalued if prices are 30 percent higher than what he calculates as a fair value based on average household income, interest rates, housing density and historical prices.
The study confirms something folks around here have long suspected.
"A person who works in Orange County can't afford to live here," said Steve Chewens, broker/owner of Chewens and Associates Real Estate in Chester.
Chewens and other real estate agents have seen an increase lately in price reductions on home listings, as well as listings that expire without a sale, evidence that the balance of power in the region's long-running seller's market has begun to shift.
DeKaser's study suggests there's a strong likelihood that the shift could turn into a full-fledged bear market, with home prices in the mid-Hudson going backward.
Over the past 20 years, he found 63 corrections, instances where a market's median price fell 10 percent or more over a period of at least eight quarters.
The typical degree of overvaluation in those cases was 30 percent.
"How many went that high without a correction?" said DeKaser. "Zero."
Of course, past performance doesn't guarantee future results. But it does suggest that prices are due for a fall.
"A little air could be let out of the bubble without it being a cataclysmic event," DeKaser said.
From 1985 to 2005, the typical decline in a correction was 17 percent. The typical duration of the down cycle was 13 quarters, according to the study.
The Orange-Dutchess area holds the dubious distinction of having suffered through the longest correction of the 63 DeKaser identified – a bear market that stretched from the first quarter of 1988 to the first quarter of 1995 and saw prices drop 13 percent.
Ulster County's most recent bear market was an 18 percent decline between the fourth quarter of 1992 to the first quarter of 1995.
Behind the numbers
Economist Richard DeKaser studied first-quarter 2005 housing prices in 299 metro areas and identified 53 where the median sale price for single-family homes was at least 30 percent higher than expected.
For instance, during the first quarter of 2005, the median sale price for single-family homes in the Orange-Dutchess area was $265,845, while DeKaser's pricing model yielded an expected median of $193,429.
The Kingston area's median sale price was $196,203, compared with a modeled price of $148,183.
The sale numbers are drawn from federal data tracking repeat sales of existing homes. This method provides a better barometer of the change in an individual home's value, because, unlike board of Realtors' data, it isn't skewed by relatively pricey new construction.
According to the Orange County Association of Realtors, the median sale price of single-family homes in Orange was $299,000 during the first quarter, up 15 percent from the first quarter of 2004. In Ulster County, the first quarter median was $228,000 up 21.3 percent from a year before.
Think home prices are high here?
Check out California.
Of 53 "extremely overvalued" housing markets identified by economist Richard DeKaser, 25 are located in The Golden State. Leading the pack is Santa Barbara, with its median sale price of $564,100 overvalued by 69 percent.
Of the top 20 overheated markets, 16 are in California, with two in Florida and one in Massachusetts and in Oregon.
New York's most overvalued market is Nassau-Suffolk (ranked 29th at 42 percent), followed by Orange-Dutchess (37th at 37 percent) and Ulster (45th at 32 percent).
The New York City region, which includes the five boroughs plus six surrounding counties, ranked 68th, at 25 percent overvalued.
Buffalo, Syracuse, Binghamton and Rochester are all undervalued, according to DeKaser's report.
Friday, August 19, 2005
Call it a tale of two townships.
August 17, 2005
Driven by Development
By GLENN COLLINS
NORTH HALEDON, N.J., Aug. 15 - Call it a tale of two townships.
Across the state border, they are 30 minutes, and 20 highway miles, apart. The borough of North Haledon in Passaic County, N.J., is verging on maximum buildout. Seventy percent of the town of Tuxedo in Orange County, N.Y., is open land.
But the towns are linked by more than the rainwater from Tuxedo that becomes the pure drinking water flowing from North Haledon's 1,431 wells.
The destinies of both municipalities are being driven by the urgency of escalating development. That point was made very publicly last month when Randy George, North Haledon's mayor, rose to take the microphone at a crowded Tuxedo public hearing on a new subdivision. He was the only New Jersey official who had made the trip.
Not unlike Marley's Ghost, he summoned up a dire specter: his premonition of Tuxedo's future.
Developers lie, Mr. George said from all-too-personal experience. They offer charming architects' renderings that might bear little resemblance to the projects they build. They talk about revenue riches but leave towns with schools to build, sewers to pay for and taxes to raise.
"The developers promise you everything, but you must remember, they are there to make money," he cautioned the audience in Tuxedo's 1928 town hall. "And as soon as they are gone, you're left holding the bag." The residents of 3.4-square-mile North Haledon and 45.6-square-mile Tuxedo are at the fulcrum of longstanding demographic and developmental forces that have increasingly claimed the attention of local governments and agitated residents across the region.
New Jersey, the nation's most densely populated state, is expected to grow by more than 750,000 people in the next decade or so. Planners predict that the demand from young home buyers, and baby boom grandparents retiring to designer communities in record numbers, will quickly consume all developable land.
"Development has been happening for hundreds of years, but it's more intense than ever because there is so little land left," Mr. George said.
And in a surprising admission for a politician, the mayor said that he - and the six-person Borough Council that he works with closely - had, in part, failed. "We've done well in limiting development, but we couldn't stop it," Mr. George said. Of the new residents, he said, "Though they pay taxes, they cost us money for services." He ticked off a few of the borough's developmental headaches:
Its insurers required North Haledon to buy a $750,000 new ladder truck for its volunteer fire department, to reach the tall new town houses being built in an abandoned quarry by K. Hovnanian Homes. Then the borough had to contribute $100,000 for an addition to the firehouse on High Mountain Avenue to shelter the new truck.
On Sept. 27, voters will consider a $30 million referendum to replace a 100-year-old elementary school.
The police force has grown from 17 to 18, and the public works department has hired new officials.
North Haledon is planning a $950,000 addition to its public works garage. It already had to buy a new $300,000 Jet-Vac machine to scour its sewer lines. To pay for such amenities, the borough had to impose a sewer-connection fee of $7,400 per unit on developers "because the state won't support towns by enacting developer-impact fees," the mayor said.
Burly and bearded, the 52-year-old Mr. George - who is on occasion taken for the actor John Malkovich - has held office since 1999. He and his wife, Lynn, have raised four daughters during the two decades they have lived in North Haledon. A lifelong Republican, he insists that despite his battles with builders, "I am not a tree-hugger."
Like 14 of the 16 mayors in Passaic County, he is a part-timer. Salary: $5,000 a year. He regularly spends 35 hours a week on mayoral duties, and his political avocation has often competed with his painting contracting business.
Developers have the upper hand because "they have more lobbying power than the towns, and more experience than many of the mayors and council people," the mayor contended. "They know more than I'll ever know about getting what they want."
Or as the North Haledon council president, Bruce O. Iacobelli - like the mayor, a Republican - said in an interview: "You have to watch everything the developers do, because they try to get in and get out as quickly as they can."
The borough's vigilance is such that on Aug. 3, it declared one developer, Belmont Homes, in default of its agreement to complete a six-unit complex on Sturr Street after an inspector found construction deficiencies. The developer has promised to address the problems.
The adversarial relationship seems never-ending, Mr. George said. Hovnanian tried to pack more than 700 town houses on its 101-acre quarry property but North Haledon wrestled the builder down to the current total, 301, he said.
"There are always negotiations that go on between a town and a developer," said Doug Fenichel, a spokesman for Hovnanian. He rejected any suggestion that Hovnanian has a build-it-and-run approach: "You don't survive in business since 1959, as we have, if you aren't taking care of municipalities."
Well-manicured, working-class and proud of it, this borough some two miles from Paterson had a 2002 population of 8,033, according to a census estimate, but will soon reach 9,000, Mayor George said.
In Tuxedo, there is still farmland and open space, but, according to Mike Edelstein, a psychology professor at Ramapo College who is the Democratic candidate for Orange County executive in the Nov. 8 election, "we are moving toward buildout like lightning."
Although formerly agrarian New Jersey towns saw a prodigious amount of development after World War II, the current growth in Orange County is "happening at a pace that is much faster," Dr. Edelstein said. "Without effective planning, we are heading toward a high tax base, a relative lack of services, impossibly congested roads and school-tax revolts."
In Tuxedo, Mayor George spoke in opposition to a plan to build Sterling Forge, 107 minimansions on a 575-acre tract of privately owned land within the 20,400-acre Sterling Forest, a preserve that New York, New Jersey and private donors spent $78.2 million to make forever wild. The turnout was so large that the hearing will be resumed Monday night, and Mayor George will be there. Mary Yrizarry, a longtime Tuxedo resident, is looking forward to the mayor's return, since his original speech "gave comfort to a lot of people who are afraid that town governments are not paying attention to these issues," she said.
"The idea that one town government would tell another town government how it really was - that's quite unusual."
But to Louis Heimbach, the president of Sterling Forest L.L.C., the Tuxedo developer, opponents of Sterling Forge "don't want anything to happen here."
"The world we live in has been built by development," he said. "Our world didn't get here thanks to the tooth fairy. Without developers we'd all be living in caves."
Developers insist that towns have all the advantages, by determining zoning in their state-mandated master plans, and in requiring new developments to satisfy inspections, performance bonds and "150 different permits with five different layers of government involved," said Patrick O'Keefe, chief executive of the New Jersey Builders Association in Robbinsville.
Mayor George responded, "I want them regulated by as many people as often as possible."
But Mr. Fenichel of Hovnanian worries that antigrowth bias will drive New Jersey residents - and jobs - away.
The state should be building 50,000 homes a year to keep abreast of its growing population, he said, but "only 25,000 to 35,000 new homes a year are being built."
Mr. O'Keefe said: "Nimby says go elsewhere. But when young people need a new place to live, or aging parents need a place to downsize, or if the marriage breaks up and the partners are looking for a place to go, they find that elsewhere is not a place on the map."
Driven by Development
By GLENN COLLINS
NORTH HALEDON, N.J., Aug. 15 - Call it a tale of two townships.
Across the state border, they are 30 minutes, and 20 highway miles, apart. The borough of North Haledon in Passaic County, N.J., is verging on maximum buildout. Seventy percent of the town of Tuxedo in Orange County, N.Y., is open land.
But the towns are linked by more than the rainwater from Tuxedo that becomes the pure drinking water flowing from North Haledon's 1,431 wells.
The destinies of both municipalities are being driven by the urgency of escalating development. That point was made very publicly last month when Randy George, North Haledon's mayor, rose to take the microphone at a crowded Tuxedo public hearing on a new subdivision. He was the only New Jersey official who had made the trip.
Not unlike Marley's Ghost, he summoned up a dire specter: his premonition of Tuxedo's future.
Developers lie, Mr. George said from all-too-personal experience. They offer charming architects' renderings that might bear little resemblance to the projects they build. They talk about revenue riches but leave towns with schools to build, sewers to pay for and taxes to raise.
"The developers promise you everything, but you must remember, they are there to make money," he cautioned the audience in Tuxedo's 1928 town hall. "And as soon as they are gone, you're left holding the bag." The residents of 3.4-square-mile North Haledon and 45.6-square-mile Tuxedo are at the fulcrum of longstanding demographic and developmental forces that have increasingly claimed the attention of local governments and agitated residents across the region.
New Jersey, the nation's most densely populated state, is expected to grow by more than 750,000 people in the next decade or so. Planners predict that the demand from young home buyers, and baby boom grandparents retiring to designer communities in record numbers, will quickly consume all developable land.
"Development has been happening for hundreds of years, but it's more intense than ever because there is so little land left," Mr. George said.
And in a surprising admission for a politician, the mayor said that he - and the six-person Borough Council that he works with closely - had, in part, failed. "We've done well in limiting development, but we couldn't stop it," Mr. George said. Of the new residents, he said, "Though they pay taxes, they cost us money for services." He ticked off a few of the borough's developmental headaches:
Its insurers required North Haledon to buy a $750,000 new ladder truck for its volunteer fire department, to reach the tall new town houses being built in an abandoned quarry by K. Hovnanian Homes. Then the borough had to contribute $100,000 for an addition to the firehouse on High Mountain Avenue to shelter the new truck.
On Sept. 27, voters will consider a $30 million referendum to replace a 100-year-old elementary school.
The police force has grown from 17 to 18, and the public works department has hired new officials.
North Haledon is planning a $950,000 addition to its public works garage. It already had to buy a new $300,000 Jet-Vac machine to scour its sewer lines. To pay for such amenities, the borough had to impose a sewer-connection fee of $7,400 per unit on developers "because the state won't support towns by enacting developer-impact fees," the mayor said.
Burly and bearded, the 52-year-old Mr. George - who is on occasion taken for the actor John Malkovich - has held office since 1999. He and his wife, Lynn, have raised four daughters during the two decades they have lived in North Haledon. A lifelong Republican, he insists that despite his battles with builders, "I am not a tree-hugger."
Like 14 of the 16 mayors in Passaic County, he is a part-timer. Salary: $5,000 a year. He regularly spends 35 hours a week on mayoral duties, and his political avocation has often competed with his painting contracting business.
Developers have the upper hand because "they have more lobbying power than the towns, and more experience than many of the mayors and council people," the mayor contended. "They know more than I'll ever know about getting what they want."
Or as the North Haledon council president, Bruce O. Iacobelli - like the mayor, a Republican - said in an interview: "You have to watch everything the developers do, because they try to get in and get out as quickly as they can."
The borough's vigilance is such that on Aug. 3, it declared one developer, Belmont Homes, in default of its agreement to complete a six-unit complex on Sturr Street after an inspector found construction deficiencies. The developer has promised to address the problems.
The adversarial relationship seems never-ending, Mr. George said. Hovnanian tried to pack more than 700 town houses on its 101-acre quarry property but North Haledon wrestled the builder down to the current total, 301, he said.
"There are always negotiations that go on between a town and a developer," said Doug Fenichel, a spokesman for Hovnanian. He rejected any suggestion that Hovnanian has a build-it-and-run approach: "You don't survive in business since 1959, as we have, if you aren't taking care of municipalities."
Well-manicured, working-class and proud of it, this borough some two miles from Paterson had a 2002 population of 8,033, according to a census estimate, but will soon reach 9,000, Mayor George said.
In Tuxedo, there is still farmland and open space, but, according to Mike Edelstein, a psychology professor at Ramapo College who is the Democratic candidate for Orange County executive in the Nov. 8 election, "we are moving toward buildout like lightning."
Although formerly agrarian New Jersey towns saw a prodigious amount of development after World War II, the current growth in Orange County is "happening at a pace that is much faster," Dr. Edelstein said. "Without effective planning, we are heading toward a high tax base, a relative lack of services, impossibly congested roads and school-tax revolts."
In Tuxedo, Mayor George spoke in opposition to a plan to build Sterling Forge, 107 minimansions on a 575-acre tract of privately owned land within the 20,400-acre Sterling Forest, a preserve that New York, New Jersey and private donors spent $78.2 million to make forever wild. The turnout was so large that the hearing will be resumed Monday night, and Mayor George will be there. Mary Yrizarry, a longtime Tuxedo resident, is looking forward to the mayor's return, since his original speech "gave comfort to a lot of people who are afraid that town governments are not paying attention to these issues," she said.
"The idea that one town government would tell another town government how it really was - that's quite unusual."
But to Louis Heimbach, the president of Sterling Forest L.L.C., the Tuxedo developer, opponents of Sterling Forge "don't want anything to happen here."
"The world we live in has been built by development," he said. "Our world didn't get here thanks to the tooth fairy. Without developers we'd all be living in caves."
Developers insist that towns have all the advantages, by determining zoning in their state-mandated master plans, and in requiring new developments to satisfy inspections, performance bonds and "150 different permits with five different layers of government involved," said Patrick O'Keefe, chief executive of the New Jersey Builders Association in Robbinsville.
Mayor George responded, "I want them regulated by as many people as often as possible."
But Mr. Fenichel of Hovnanian worries that antigrowth bias will drive New Jersey residents - and jobs - away.
The state should be building 50,000 homes a year to keep abreast of its growing population, he said, but "only 25,000 to 35,000 new homes a year are being built."
Mr. O'Keefe said: "Nimby says go elsewhere. But when young people need a new place to live, or aging parents need a place to downsize, or if the marriage breaks up and the partners are looking for a place to go, they find that elsewhere is not a place on the map."
Sunday, August 14, 2005
107 more
Hearing on Sterling Forge development set for Aug. 22
TUXEDO-The Tuxedo Town Board will resume its public hearings on the planned Sterling Forge development on Monday, Aug. 22, at 7:30 p.m., at the Tuxedo Elementary School.
The hearings began last month in the Tuxedo Town Hall. Reportedly, more than 100 attended the first hearing.
The board agreed to continue the hearings Aug. 22 in the Tuxedo Elementary school's "cafetorium" to make room for the people expected to attend. The elementary school is located at the corner of Route 17 and Hillside Avenue in Tuxedo.
The Sterling Forge development project seeks to build 107 luxury homes on a parcel of land (straddling the towns of Tuxedo, Warwick and Monroe) surrounded by Sterling Forest State Park. Environmentalists have claimed that the development will damage the integrity of the State Park, according to Rodger Friedman of the Sterling Forest Partnership.
Who is buying all these houses
TUXEDO-The Tuxedo Town Board will resume its public hearings on the planned Sterling Forge development on Monday, Aug. 22, at 7:30 p.m., at the Tuxedo Elementary School.
The hearings began last month in the Tuxedo Town Hall. Reportedly, more than 100 attended the first hearing.
The board agreed to continue the hearings Aug. 22 in the Tuxedo Elementary school's "cafetorium" to make room for the people expected to attend. The elementary school is located at the corner of Route 17 and Hillside Avenue in Tuxedo.
The Sterling Forge development project seeks to build 107 luxury homes on a parcel of land (straddling the towns of Tuxedo, Warwick and Monroe) surrounded by Sterling Forest State Park. Environmentalists have claimed that the development will damage the integrity of the State Park, according to Rodger Friedman of the Sterling Forest Partnership.
Who is buying all these houses
A uphill battle
SaveMonroe primary challengers
By Bill Lemanski
MONROE-This political campaign season will include an interesting mix of primary election challengers from the grass-roots organization, SaveMonroe.
The contest is for town supervisor and two town board seats on both the Republican and Democratic lines in the Town of Monroe in the Sept. 13 primary election. The SaveMonroe team also scored a coup by capturing the endorsement and pursuing the ballot line of the Conservative Party, which has historically supported the incumbent Republicans.
Vying for the supervisor's position on the Democratic ballot line against the Democrat's endorsed candidate, Alicia Vaccaro, is Robert Purdy, a 28-year town resident who is president of SaveMonroe. Purdy is a registered Democrat and has been active in labor relations as a member of I.U.O.E. Local 891. He is a former Marine and member of American Legion Post 1088, is married with three children and has never held public office.
Purdy said he is concerned with what he claims is the uncontrolled growth and congestion in Monroe. He said the current board has not effectively addressed the issues of "massive traffic, uncontrolled growth and loss of open space." He believes school taxes are too high and the present town board has catered to special interest groups while growing complacent with town problems. He said his focus will be on "protecting the quality of life in Monroe" and that he would include town citizens to a higher degree in the decision-making process.
Incumbent Monroe Town Supervisor Sandy Leonard is the Republican candidate.
Theresa Budich and Kathy Parrella, both registered Republicans, are challenging longtime incumbent town board members, incumbents and Republican-endorsed Don Weeks and Peter Martin in a GOP primary.
Budich has been a member of the Monroe-Woodbury School Board for 11 years. She also is past president of the Special Education PTA and is on the board of SaveMonroe. A town resident for 21 years, Budich and her husband have four children. She works in the real-estate business.
"People need to take responsibility and our current board doesn't want to," Budich said. As an example, she said that Meadow Glen, a former undeveloped meadow on Larkin Drive, was re-zoned by the board from light industry to residential. She claims that the rezoning has reduced the ratable value of the property.
Parrella has been a town resident for nearly 25 years. Although she has never held public office, Parrella has been active in civic affairs as co-founder of The Preservation Collective, a community planning organization, and as a member of the board of directors of Orange Environment, Inc.
She said she shares her colleagues' view of uncontrolled growth in the Monroe area.
Parrella is married, has two children and is an information technology professional, specializing in project management and systems integration.
The team's platform states that the candidates "promote smart and sustainable growth;" support "protecting the Town and its residents;" support bringing services up to 2005 standards;" and seek to "stabilize property taxes."
The SaveMonroe organization has been in existence for approximately six years and has a membership of between 150 to 160 residents.
tion's mission statement is "dedicated to preserving as much open space as possible, ensuring that codes and zoning are put in place and enforced, and keeping its members informed of important issues."
By Bill Lemanski
MONROE-This political campaign season will include an interesting mix of primary election challengers from the grass-roots organization, SaveMonroe.
The contest is for town supervisor and two town board seats on both the Republican and Democratic lines in the Town of Monroe in the Sept. 13 primary election. The SaveMonroe team also scored a coup by capturing the endorsement and pursuing the ballot line of the Conservative Party, which has historically supported the incumbent Republicans.
Vying for the supervisor's position on the Democratic ballot line against the Democrat's endorsed candidate, Alicia Vaccaro, is Robert Purdy, a 28-year town resident who is president of SaveMonroe. Purdy is a registered Democrat and has been active in labor relations as a member of I.U.O.E. Local 891. He is a former Marine and member of American Legion Post 1088, is married with three children and has never held public office.
Purdy said he is concerned with what he claims is the uncontrolled growth and congestion in Monroe. He said the current board has not effectively addressed the issues of "massive traffic, uncontrolled growth and loss of open space." He believes school taxes are too high and the present town board has catered to special interest groups while growing complacent with town problems. He said his focus will be on "protecting the quality of life in Monroe" and that he would include town citizens to a higher degree in the decision-making process.
Incumbent Monroe Town Supervisor Sandy Leonard is the Republican candidate.
Theresa Budich and Kathy Parrella, both registered Republicans, are challenging longtime incumbent town board members, incumbents and Republican-endorsed Don Weeks and Peter Martin in a GOP primary.
Budich has been a member of the Monroe-Woodbury School Board for 11 years. She also is past president of the Special Education PTA and is on the board of SaveMonroe. A town resident for 21 years, Budich and her husband have four children. She works in the real-estate business.
"People need to take responsibility and our current board doesn't want to," Budich said. As an example, she said that Meadow Glen, a former undeveloped meadow on Larkin Drive, was re-zoned by the board from light industry to residential. She claims that the rezoning has reduced the ratable value of the property.
Parrella has been a town resident for nearly 25 years. Although she has never held public office, Parrella has been active in civic affairs as co-founder of The Preservation Collective, a community planning organization, and as a member of the board of directors of Orange Environment, Inc.
She said she shares her colleagues' view of uncontrolled growth in the Monroe area.
Parrella is married, has two children and is an information technology professional, specializing in project management and systems integration.
The team's platform states that the candidates "promote smart and sustainable growth;" support "protecting the Town and its residents;" support bringing services up to 2005 standards;" and seek to "stabilize property taxes."
The SaveMonroe organization has been in existence for approximately six years and has a membership of between 150 to 160 residents.
tion's mission statement is "dedicated to preserving as much open space as possible, ensuring that codes and zoning are put in place and enforced, and keeping its members informed of important issues."
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
You can't please everyone!
Conservative Group to Oppose John Roberts By JESSE J. HOLLAND, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 31 minutes ago
A conservative group in Virginia said Tuesday it would oppose Supreme Court nominee John Roberts' confirmation because of his work helping overturn a Colorado referendum on gays.
The stance by Public Advocate of the United States, which describes itself as a pro-family organization, puts it in opposition to conservative groups that have endorsed Roberts. A number of liberal groups oppose President Bush's nominee.
"The move comes as a result of Roberts' support for the radical homosexual lobby in the 1996 Supreme Court case Romer v. Evans, which overturned a pro-family law passed by the citizens of Colorado in an appalling act of judicial activism," the group said in a news release. It planned a news conference for Wednesday in front of the Supreme Court.
The group's president, Eugene Delgaudio, had said last week that if "Judge Roberts did provide advice on how to overturn this pro-family measure overwhelmingly supported by the people of Colorado, then Public Advocate calls on President Bush to withdraw his nomination of Judge Roberts immediately."
Messages left for Delgaudio seeking comment were not immediately returned on Tuesday.
This is not the first time Delgaudio has gone up against the Bush administration. He criticized Vice President Dick Cheney last year after the vice president, when asked about gay marriage, said, "Freedom means freedom for everyone."
Delgaudio said then: "'Freedom' is not embracing perversion."
The Colorado gay rights case involved Amendment 2, a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 1992 that would have barred laws, ordinances or regulations protecting gays from discrimination by landlords, employers or public agencies such as school districts.
Gay rights groups sued, and the measure was declared unconstitutional in a 6-3 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1996.
Roberts' role in the case included helping develop a strategy and firing tough questions during a mock court session at Jean Dubofsky, a former Colorado Supreme Court justice who argued the case on behalf of the gay rights plaintiffs.
Other conservative groups, including the Traditional Values Coalition and Focus on the Family Action, the political arm of the Colorado Springs-based conservative Christian ministry Focus on the Family, are still supporting Roberts.
"We support President Bush and his choice for the Supreme Court, John Roberts," said the Rev. Lou Sheldon, founder of the Traditional Values Coalition.
Other groups also are taking public stands on Roberts' candidacy.
NARAL Pro Choice America plans to start running television ads opposing Roberts on Wednesday, and other abortion rights groups including the National Organization for Women, the National Abortion Federation and the Feminist Majority all have announced their opposition to Roberts.
The National Association of Manufacturers, led by Republican John Engler, is expected to announce an endorsement of Roberts on Wednesday.
___
1 hour, 31 minutes ago
A conservative group in Virginia said Tuesday it would oppose Supreme Court nominee John Roberts' confirmation because of his work helping overturn a Colorado referendum on gays.
The stance by Public Advocate of the United States, which describes itself as a pro-family organization, puts it in opposition to conservative groups that have endorsed Roberts. A number of liberal groups oppose President Bush's nominee.
"The move comes as a result of Roberts' support for the radical homosexual lobby in the 1996 Supreme Court case Romer v. Evans, which overturned a pro-family law passed by the citizens of Colorado in an appalling act of judicial activism," the group said in a news release. It planned a news conference for Wednesday in front of the Supreme Court.
The group's president, Eugene Delgaudio, had said last week that if "Judge Roberts did provide advice on how to overturn this pro-family measure overwhelmingly supported by the people of Colorado, then Public Advocate calls on President Bush to withdraw his nomination of Judge Roberts immediately."
Messages left for Delgaudio seeking comment were not immediately returned on Tuesday.
This is not the first time Delgaudio has gone up against the Bush administration. He criticized Vice President Dick Cheney last year after the vice president, when asked about gay marriage, said, "Freedom means freedom for everyone."
Delgaudio said then: "'Freedom' is not embracing perversion."
The Colorado gay rights case involved Amendment 2, a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 1992 that would have barred laws, ordinances or regulations protecting gays from discrimination by landlords, employers or public agencies such as school districts.
Gay rights groups sued, and the measure was declared unconstitutional in a 6-3 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1996.
Roberts' role in the case included helping develop a strategy and firing tough questions during a mock court session at Jean Dubofsky, a former Colorado Supreme Court justice who argued the case on behalf of the gay rights plaintiffs.
Other conservative groups, including the Traditional Values Coalition and Focus on the Family Action, the political arm of the Colorado Springs-based conservative Christian ministry Focus on the Family, are still supporting Roberts.
"We support President Bush and his choice for the Supreme Court, John Roberts," said the Rev. Lou Sheldon, founder of the Traditional Values Coalition.
Other groups also are taking public stands on Roberts' candidacy.
NARAL Pro Choice America plans to start running television ads opposing Roberts on Wednesday, and other abortion rights groups including the National Organization for Women, the National Abortion Federation and the Feminist Majority all have announced their opposition to Roberts.
The National Association of Manufacturers, led by Republican John Engler, is expected to announce an endorsement of Roberts on Wednesday.
___
Sunday, August 07, 2005
Something we need in Woodbury ?
Thanks to the Affordable Housing Committee and the Town Board, affordable housing will be a reality in Goshen within 1 ½-2 years. Affordable housing is mandated in certain areas of Town by the new zoning code and there are development applications now before the Town’s Planning Board that include affordable housing units. It is only a matter of time before they are approved.
In order to guide both the developers and the Planning Board through the approval process and allocation of these units, an Affordable Housing Committee, which has been meeting every two weeks for almost six months, presented its recommendations to the Town Board last week. A public hearing on the issue has been set for July 14, 2005, at 7:30 pm at Town Hall.
The proposed law describes as eligible those households that earn between 60%-150% of the median income for Orange County (currently set at $68,150.00), as determined by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”)
The affordable housing units must be interspersed throughout the development and are required, on their exteriors, to be similar to the market units. Only the interiors may be different, although they may not be substantially smaller than the market units and granite countertops and other expensive finishings may be excluded.
Once a household is determined to be income-eligible, preference points are given to volunteer and paid emergency services personnel, current and former Goshen residents, school district employees, healthcare workers, veterans, and senior citizens. If there are more takers than there are units, a lottery system will determine the allocation. An outside agency will be employed by the Town to administer the program to insure professionalism and continuity in the selection process and to protect that process from any taint of bias. The resale of the units shall be restricted to the purchase price, plus the cost of the consumer price index (CPI) and approved capital improvements. The deed will contain a notation that the property is restricted as affordable housing to alert future purchasers (who must qualify as eligible before closing on the property) and lenders.
Affordable housing programs, similar to that proposed in Goshen, are not new. The Deputy Commissioner of Housing & Community Development for Westchester County, spoke to the Affordable Housing Committee and shared the trials and tribulations of that area’s 20-year affordable housing policy. Except for a few glitches early in the program, which have since been corrected, the Westchester experience has been positive and there are now more than 3500 affordable units there.
Affordable housing mandates were included in the Goshen Zoning Code for several reasons, not the least of which, was to enable our families to remain in Goshen. We also do not want to lose our police, fire and ambulance workers to distant, more affordable areas, with the result that volunteers no longer exist or paid employees are less invested in our community and have longer commutes. Westchester discovered that there was a teacher shortage in their schools because teachers could not afford to live where they worked, moved away, and then chose not to commute long distances. It is the hope of the Town Board and the Affordable Housing Committee that Goshen will be able to avoid the flight of personnel needed for the health, safety and general welfare of our community and will remain diverse in its socio-economic base.
Much thanks to the Affordable Housing Committee, which worked at breakneck speed to meet its June deadline: Tom Boxman, Donna Case-McAleer, Ronnie Degnan, Alice Dickinson, Tom Fay, Neal Halloran (Chairman),George Lyons, Rolland Peacock, Jim Thornton, Mike Wilson and Town Attorney, John Cappello.
The proposed law is available for review by the public in the Town Clerk’s Office and all are, of course, welcome to the public hearing on July 14.
In order to guide both the developers and the Planning Board through the approval process and allocation of these units, an Affordable Housing Committee, which has been meeting every two weeks for almost six months, presented its recommendations to the Town Board last week. A public hearing on the issue has been set for July 14, 2005, at 7:30 pm at Town Hall.
The proposed law describes as eligible those households that earn between 60%-150% of the median income for Orange County (currently set at $68,150.00), as determined by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”)
The affordable housing units must be interspersed throughout the development and are required, on their exteriors, to be similar to the market units. Only the interiors may be different, although they may not be substantially smaller than the market units and granite countertops and other expensive finishings may be excluded.
Once a household is determined to be income-eligible, preference points are given to volunteer and paid emergency services personnel, current and former Goshen residents, school district employees, healthcare workers, veterans, and senior citizens. If there are more takers than there are units, a lottery system will determine the allocation. An outside agency will be employed by the Town to administer the program to insure professionalism and continuity in the selection process and to protect that process from any taint of bias. The resale of the units shall be restricted to the purchase price, plus the cost of the consumer price index (CPI) and approved capital improvements. The deed will contain a notation that the property is restricted as affordable housing to alert future purchasers (who must qualify as eligible before closing on the property) and lenders.
Affordable housing programs, similar to that proposed in Goshen, are not new. The Deputy Commissioner of Housing & Community Development for Westchester County, spoke to the Affordable Housing Committee and shared the trials and tribulations of that area’s 20-year affordable housing policy. Except for a few glitches early in the program, which have since been corrected, the Westchester experience has been positive and there are now more than 3500 affordable units there.
Affordable housing mandates were included in the Goshen Zoning Code for several reasons, not the least of which, was to enable our families to remain in Goshen. We also do not want to lose our police, fire and ambulance workers to distant, more affordable areas, with the result that volunteers no longer exist or paid employees are less invested in our community and have longer commutes. Westchester discovered that there was a teacher shortage in their schools because teachers could not afford to live where they worked, moved away, and then chose not to commute long distances. It is the hope of the Town Board and the Affordable Housing Committee that Goshen will be able to avoid the flight of personnel needed for the health, safety and general welfare of our community and will remain diverse in its socio-economic base.
Much thanks to the Affordable Housing Committee, which worked at breakneck speed to meet its June deadline: Tom Boxman, Donna Case-McAleer, Ronnie Degnan, Alice Dickinson, Tom Fay, Neal Halloran (Chairman),George Lyons, Rolland Peacock, Jim Thornton, Mike Wilson and Town Attorney, John Cappello.
The proposed law is available for review by the public in the Town Clerk’s Office and all are, of course, welcome to the public hearing on July 14.
Saturday, August 06, 2005
They need to close this camp!
Camp fairy tales
Fact or fiction: Camp La Guardia.
Now that the newspaper has everyone believing that Camp La Guardia is such a wonderful rehabilitation facility, let's dissect the news.
As a Chester Town Board member, I attend every monthly Advisory Board meeting. They tell us that they placed 773 homeless men into outside housing. What about the four-plus buses that come and go every day? There are no background checks. If security finds out there is a warrant out for a resident, they have 48 hours to remove him. That is a long time for a sex offender or felon to be free to roam about town.
The article states there are support and resource agencies to prevent problems. The director at the camp only gives me the number of beds available for each program and not how many actually participate in the programs. So how can we know the success rate of each program?
Five percent of the residents end up in Orange County with jobs and housing. Fine, but what about all the day workers who pay no taxes and work when they want? They are taking advantage of Orange County.
VA is to reject criminals and those under the age of 35. The Department of Homeless Services forbids any background checks. How can they explain a Level 3 sex offender, drug dealers and felons?
Sorry, Times Herald-Record, this newspaper is believing in fairy tales.
Cindy Smith
Chester
Bottom line is they need to close this camp!
Fact or fiction: Camp La Guardia.
Now that the newspaper has everyone believing that Camp La Guardia is such a wonderful rehabilitation facility, let's dissect the news.
As a Chester Town Board member, I attend every monthly Advisory Board meeting. They tell us that they placed 773 homeless men into outside housing. What about the four-plus buses that come and go every day? There are no background checks. If security finds out there is a warrant out for a resident, they have 48 hours to remove him. That is a long time for a sex offender or felon to be free to roam about town.
The article states there are support and resource agencies to prevent problems. The director at the camp only gives me the number of beds available for each program and not how many actually participate in the programs. So how can we know the success rate of each program?
Five percent of the residents end up in Orange County with jobs and housing. Fine, but what about all the day workers who pay no taxes and work when they want? They are taking advantage of Orange County.
VA is to reject criminals and those under the age of 35. The Department of Homeless Services forbids any background checks. How can they explain a Level 3 sex offender, drug dealers and felons?
Sorry, Times Herald-Record, this newspaper is believing in fairy tales.
Cindy Smith
Chester
Bottom line is they need to close this camp!
Just wait till Hillary takes office
Americans didn't flock to Canada after Bush win
By David LjunggrenFri Aug 5,10:37 AM ET
Canadians can put away those extra welcome mats -- it seems Americans unhappy about the result of last November's presidential election have decided to stay at home after all.
In the days after President Bush won a second term, the number of U.S. citizens visiting Canada's main immigration Web site shot up sixfold, prompting speculation that unhappy Democrats would flock north.
But official statistics show the number of Americans actually applying to live permanently in Canada fell in the six months after the election.
On the face of it this is not good news -- Canada is one of the few major nations seeking to attract immigrants -- but Immigration Minister Joe Volpe was philosophical.
"We'll take talent from wherever it is resident in the world. I was absolutely elated to see the number of hits and then my staff said 'You know what? A hit on the Internet is after all just a hit'," he told Reuters on Thursday.
"I guess I'm happy Republicans and Democrats have found a way to live together in peace and in harmony," he said.
Canada generally tilts more to the social and political left than the United States.
Data from the main Canadian processing center in Buffalo, NY shows that in the six months up to the U.S. election there were 16,266 applications from people seeking to live in Canada, a figure that fell to 14,666 for the half year after the vote.
A spokeswoman for Canada's federal immigration ministry declined to speculate on the reasons for the drop.
Toby Condliffe, who heads the Canadian chapter of Democrats Abroad, did have an explanation of sorts.
"I can only assume the Americans who checked out the Web site subsequently checked out our winter temperatures and further took note that the National Hockey League was being locked out and had second thoughts," he told Reuters.
Last year, Canada, which has a population of about 32 million, accepted 235,808 immigrants from all over the world.
By David LjunggrenFri Aug 5,10:37 AM ET
Canadians can put away those extra welcome mats -- it seems Americans unhappy about the result of last November's presidential election have decided to stay at home after all.
In the days after President Bush won a second term, the number of U.S. citizens visiting Canada's main immigration Web site shot up sixfold, prompting speculation that unhappy Democrats would flock north.
But official statistics show the number of Americans actually applying to live permanently in Canada fell in the six months after the election.
On the face of it this is not good news -- Canada is one of the few major nations seeking to attract immigrants -- but Immigration Minister Joe Volpe was philosophical.
"We'll take talent from wherever it is resident in the world. I was absolutely elated to see the number of hits and then my staff said 'You know what? A hit on the Internet is after all just a hit'," he told Reuters on Thursday.
"I guess I'm happy Republicans and Democrats have found a way to live together in peace and in harmony," he said.
Canada generally tilts more to the social and political left than the United States.
Data from the main Canadian processing center in Buffalo, NY shows that in the six months up to the U.S. election there were 16,266 applications from people seeking to live in Canada, a figure that fell to 14,666 for the half year after the vote.
A spokeswoman for Canada's federal immigration ministry declined to speculate on the reasons for the drop.
Toby Condliffe, who heads the Canadian chapter of Democrats Abroad, did have an explanation of sorts.
"I can only assume the Americans who checked out the Web site subsequently checked out our winter temperatures and further took note that the National Hockey League was being locked out and had second thoughts," he told Reuters.
Last year, Canada, which has a population of about 32 million, accepted 235,808 immigrants from all over the world.
Another $570k for warwick
Warwick reaps $570,360 from open space program
Money will be used to
purchase development rights
at 200-acre Brady farm
By David Gordon
Warwick - With the vista of an open field at his back earlier this week, Orange County Executive Edward Diana announced the recipients of county grants to preserve open space.
Brady Mountain Angus Farm in Warwick, the scene of Diana's announcement, was the top applicant among 17 submitted. In all, eight received county open space preservation funding totaling $2.5 million. This money, along with local matching funds, buys development rights or outright purchase of 965 acres.
The funds require a local match. "The $2.5 million handed out today leverages almost twice as much," said Orange County Planning Board Chairman Susan Metzger.
The Town of Warwick received $570,360 toward purchase of the development rights to the 200-acre Brady farm. The total cost is $1,901,200. Federal funds and Scenic Hudson will cover most of the town's match, said Supervisor Michael Sweeton. "We will end up paying very little of this," he added.
To date, 1,300 acres in the Town of Warwick have been set aside for preservation, with plans for 700 to 800 additional acres in the works, Supervisor Michael Sweeton said. The value of the properties totals $11 million; the cost to the town has been $5.5 million with funds from Washington, Albany and Scenic Hudson making up the difference.
In addition to preserving a working farm, the Brady Farm provides habitat for diverse plants and animals. And, noted Warwick Mayor Michael Newhard, the property straddles the village reservoirs and contains much of the watershed for the village water supply.
Meanwhile, the Town of Goshen will receive $634,725 toward purchase of development rights to Knoell Farm, which will cost a total of $1,410,500. This 169.5-acre purchase includes prime soils and soils of statewide significance, according to the project description. It also includes the Black Meadow Creek corridor, habitat for a variety of plants and animals, and scenic vistas. The farm is also adjacent to the Orange County Heritage Trail and the town's proposed bicycle-pedestrian path.
The county will also fund a portion of the cost of buying the development rights to North Star Farm, also known as Rhodes Farm. The development rights to this 131.8-acre horse farm will cost $1,105,700, of which the county is picking up $400,000. The purchase helps to protect the watershed of one of Goshen's reservoirs.
"People are moving out of New York City in droves," Diana said. "We appreciate the growth, but we want to preserve the values we have had. Today we preserved nearly 1,000 acres of open space."
The county has allocated $20 million to open space preservation to be spent over the next five years. In addition, money from the Orange County Water Authority will be used to preserve watershed areas.
However, Michael Edelstein, former president of Orange Environment and the Democrat and Working Families candidate for county executive in the next county election, said Diana's action is too little, too late. "Eddie ran, in part, as an open space candidate," he said. "Now on the eve of his term being up, he makes this announcement."
The county's open-space bond provides for $20 million over five years, but in the first year, only $2 million from the bond is being spent, he said.
Edelstein has criticized Diana in the past for holding an excessive amount of taxpayers' money in unspent fund balances, popularly known as surpluses. He noted that of the estimated $50 million-plus surplus acknowledged by Diana, $6 million to $7 million could have funded all 17 eligible applications.
It is important to buy development rights or conservation easements as quickly as possible, because demand for land is so high, and there is so much pressure on farmers to sell to developers, Edelstein said. Diana's legacy could be the land that was lost through slow action, rather than the amount that was saved.
Diana said Edelstein was off base, and that the county would be awarding another $900,000 in the fall. The funding for next year could be more than the $3.5 million approved this year, and it would certainly not be less, he said.
Money will be used to
purchase development rights
at 200-acre Brady farm
By David Gordon
Warwick - With the vista of an open field at his back earlier this week, Orange County Executive Edward Diana announced the recipients of county grants to preserve open space.
Brady Mountain Angus Farm in Warwick, the scene of Diana's announcement, was the top applicant among 17 submitted. In all, eight received county open space preservation funding totaling $2.5 million. This money, along with local matching funds, buys development rights or outright purchase of 965 acres.
The funds require a local match. "The $2.5 million handed out today leverages almost twice as much," said Orange County Planning Board Chairman Susan Metzger.
The Town of Warwick received $570,360 toward purchase of the development rights to the 200-acre Brady farm. The total cost is $1,901,200. Federal funds and Scenic Hudson will cover most of the town's match, said Supervisor Michael Sweeton. "We will end up paying very little of this," he added.
To date, 1,300 acres in the Town of Warwick have been set aside for preservation, with plans for 700 to 800 additional acres in the works, Supervisor Michael Sweeton said. The value of the properties totals $11 million; the cost to the town has been $5.5 million with funds from Washington, Albany and Scenic Hudson making up the difference.
In addition to preserving a working farm, the Brady Farm provides habitat for diverse plants and animals. And, noted Warwick Mayor Michael Newhard, the property straddles the village reservoirs and contains much of the watershed for the village water supply.
Meanwhile, the Town of Goshen will receive $634,725 toward purchase of development rights to Knoell Farm, which will cost a total of $1,410,500. This 169.5-acre purchase includes prime soils and soils of statewide significance, according to the project description. It also includes the Black Meadow Creek corridor, habitat for a variety of plants and animals, and scenic vistas. The farm is also adjacent to the Orange County Heritage Trail and the town's proposed bicycle-pedestrian path.
The county will also fund a portion of the cost of buying the development rights to North Star Farm, also known as Rhodes Farm. The development rights to this 131.8-acre horse farm will cost $1,105,700, of which the county is picking up $400,000. The purchase helps to protect the watershed of one of Goshen's reservoirs.
"People are moving out of New York City in droves," Diana said. "We appreciate the growth, but we want to preserve the values we have had. Today we preserved nearly 1,000 acres of open space."
The county has allocated $20 million to open space preservation to be spent over the next five years. In addition, money from the Orange County Water Authority will be used to preserve watershed areas.
However, Michael Edelstein, former president of Orange Environment and the Democrat and Working Families candidate for county executive in the next county election, said Diana's action is too little, too late. "Eddie ran, in part, as an open space candidate," he said. "Now on the eve of his term being up, he makes this announcement."
The county's open-space bond provides for $20 million over five years, but in the first year, only $2 million from the bond is being spent, he said.
Edelstein has criticized Diana in the past for holding an excessive amount of taxpayers' money in unspent fund balances, popularly known as surpluses. He noted that of the estimated $50 million-plus surplus acknowledged by Diana, $6 million to $7 million could have funded all 17 eligible applications.
It is important to buy development rights or conservation easements as quickly as possible, because demand for land is so high, and there is so much pressure on farmers to sell to developers, Edelstein said. Diana's legacy could be the land that was lost through slow action, rather than the amount that was saved.
Diana said Edelstein was off base, and that the county would be awarding another $900,000 in the fall. The funding for next year could be more than the $3.5 million approved this year, and it would certainly not be less, he said.
Water
Woodbury urged to conserve water Town of Woodbury residents are asked to curb their water usage because of mechanical problems with one of the water district's wells. Outside watering may be done only from 7 to 9 p.m. until further notice.
Monday, August 01, 2005
Goshen ?
Town of Goshen is indeed doing unusual things By Douglas Cunningham Times Herald-Record dcunningham@th-record.com I'm sitting across from Honey Bernstein on one of those baking hot days this summer. She's the Town of Goshen supervisor, and she's more than a bit upset with me. We could say angry; yes, angry would cover it. Some weeks ago, I wrote a series of columns about development and land use. The e-mail and calls poured in. I had reiterated my opposition to large-lot zoning. I said that communities across the region latched onto supposed "overdevelopment" as an excuse to enact a building moratorium. Then, these towns frittered away months and even years as they extended the building halt again and again. I said that this usually ended with towns changing the zoning, something that amounted to an improper taking, a seizure of property rights. And, at bottom, I said that this fascination with big lots and zoning changes amounted to the creation of exclusivity – a skewed half-million-dollar market in which ordinary working stiffs can't live anymore. Goshen, among many towns, enacted a moratorium, then did a new master plan and zoning code. Bernstein said that I oversimplified in my criticism. She told me I ignored the many positive things Goshen is doing in its new zoning code. Hence the invitation to her office, overlooking a parking lot where heat rippled from the asphalt. I drank the proffered coffee as she, building and zoning inspector Neal Halloran and I pored over maps, sketches and plans for new developments. I didn't change my mind on the fundamental issues. But I can report that Goshen is indeed doing unusual and intriguing things as it tries to preserve some open space. And this is happening as the town balances on the edge of a housing juggernaut. Here are some of the town's initiatives: Developers are required to put the housing on half of the available land in the parcel, thus preserving open space in larger chunks. The town seeks to use public trails to link new developments with existing parts of town. The town is planning to act as a clearinghouse, an agent, if you will, to transfer development rights to builders who want more density, from landowners who want to preserve the space, like farmers. The beauty of this is open space is preserved without tapping public coffers. Houses in some developments, though on large lots, will be close to the roadway, making the overall appearance more like a village. The town has designated areas for higher-density and commercial development, and is allowing developers to include some modest commercial space in logical common areas. Voluntary provisions for affordable housing, and for greater than 50 percent open space, can lead to higher density. In the so-called hamlet areas, 10 percent of the new housing must be geared toward the affordable end. Bernstein and Halloran showed me real plans, with real projects, already going through the approval process under the new code. Trails link developments; tree lines are preserved. Housing is grouped together. I cannot say whether this will work. I still think Orange County is facing a heck of a problem in providing housing even for someone who makes $50,000 a year. I think there's been a lack of leadership, at multiple levels, in addressing this problem. But that problem likely can't be solved in the Town of Goshen alone. The town's identified its issues and is doing some slick things, and that merits some admiration.
And all he gets is 10 days!
Rafael Palmeiro, who told Congress he never used steroids, was suspended for violating MLB's steroid policy. Story
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