Republicans form new club
Dissidents call town group too secretive
By John Sullivan
Times Herald-Record
January 29, 2008 6:00 AM
WOODBURY — Dissatisfied with what they claim is a secretive and dictatorial party leadership, current and former members of the Woodbury Town Republican Committee have broken off to form their own election machine.
"They (the town Republican Committee) don't seem to exist for any particular reason, except to have a meeting once a month, if they have it at all," said town Councilman Mike Queenan, spokesman for the new splinter group known as the Republican Club.
The club established its bylaws and mission statement last week and counts about eight members, including town Councilwoman Geraldine Gianzero and former Councilwoman Lorraine McNeil.
It is modeled after other Republican clubs in Orange County and around the country, Queenan said.
The club will serve as a political election committee, campaigning and raising funds for its own candidates, as well as mobilizing votes in the community.
Voting and non-voting memberships are offered to registered Republicans in Woodbury.
The club's formation comes in the wake of outcries against leaders of both parties. Critics allege that members of the Republican Committee, including Ralph Caruso, the chairman, worked with John Burke, a Democrat and the town supervisor, as well as other Democratic Committee members, to oust McNeil and Mike Aronowitz from the Town Board.
Queenan alleged that Caruso runs a committee that barely holds meetings, operates on proxy votes from absent officers and acts like a "kangaroo court" for Caruso's will.
Deals Caruso has made in the past have undermined the committee's purpose, as well as hurt the democratic process, Queenan said.
Caruso did not return calls for comment.
"We feel a lot of people don't know what's going on, and that's detrimental to everyone," Queenan said.
The splinter club will likely also mean a break with the Orange County Republican Party, which holds loyalties to Caruso and does not tolerate dissension within the ranks, Queenan said.
County Republican Party Chairman Bill DeProspo could not be reached for comment.
jsullivan@th-record.com
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Hall defends $521K for Kiryas Joel radios
News
Hall defends $521K for Kiryas Joel radios
By John Sullivan
Times Herald-Record
January 25, 2008 6:00 AM
WooDbury — Rep. John Hall answered questions about national tax rebates, improved benefits for veterans and a new energy policy.
But it was a question about $521,700 earmarked for the Hasidic Village of Kiryas Joel that got the most attention at a Town Hall meeting yesterday in Woodbury.
Hall, D-Dover Plains, had been instrumental in securing the money, part of a $516 billion appropriations bill passed by Congress at the end of 2007. Kiryas Joel asked Hall's office for the money to purchase a radio communications system for its security services.
The village of more than 20,000 Satmar Hasidim does not have its own police department. Radio communications would help protect it from hate crimes or terrorism, the village had argued in its application, Hall said.
Some in the audience, however, considered the funding favoritism.
Woodbury police Chief Robert Kwiatkowski argued that Kiryas Joel's request should have fallen under the purview of Orange County's E-911 system. Hall replied that Kiryas Joel asked for the money; the county did not.
Hall said the money represented a small fraction of the money he was able to receive for local governments.
"When it comes to appropriations, we will do our best for any project worth funding," he said.
jsullivan@th-record.com
Hall defends $521K for Kiryas Joel radios
By John Sullivan
Times Herald-Record
January 25, 2008 6:00 AM
WooDbury — Rep. John Hall answered questions about national tax rebates, improved benefits for veterans and a new energy policy.
But it was a question about $521,700 earmarked for the Hasidic Village of Kiryas Joel that got the most attention at a Town Hall meeting yesterday in Woodbury.
Hall, D-Dover Plains, had been instrumental in securing the money, part of a $516 billion appropriations bill passed by Congress at the end of 2007. Kiryas Joel asked Hall's office for the money to purchase a radio communications system for its security services.
The village of more than 20,000 Satmar Hasidim does not have its own police department. Radio communications would help protect it from hate crimes or terrorism, the village had argued in its application, Hall said.
Some in the audience, however, considered the funding favoritism.
Woodbury police Chief Robert Kwiatkowski argued that Kiryas Joel's request should have fallen under the purview of Orange County's E-911 system. Hall replied that Kiryas Joel asked for the money; the county did not.
Hall said the money represented a small fraction of the money he was able to receive for local governments.
"When it comes to appropriations, we will do our best for any project worth funding," he said.
jsullivan@th-record.com
Saturday, January 05, 2008
The return of Mike Aronowitz
Fred I have complete respect for you that you didn’t support me because of my vote on WP3. You also showed guts not signing it “anonymous”. What I don’t understand is why the three of them didn’t want to campaign on issues but rather make up lies about me after we all shook hands and said we wouldn’t do that.
The return of Mike Aronowitz
Published: January 3, 2008
To the editor:
Yes, I hope that Mike does return to the political scene. Past elected officials in Woodbury have just faded away. It takes a special individual to enter today’s political environment, one filled with disrespect and attacks (often anonymous) from those who never will step up to the plate and run for office.
I served for several years with Mike on the Woodbury Parks Commission. Mike showed talent and was able to get his message across. I contributed to and supported his first campaign.
As for his second campaign and the “flier” incident - politics, unfortunately, is and always will be dirty. However, Mike lost my vote, and I believe the election, because of his failure to adequately explain to the public his position change on Woodbury Junction.
Fred Ungerer
Highland Mills
The return of Mike Aronowitz
Published: January 3, 2008
To the editor:
Yes, I hope that Mike does return to the political scene. Past elected officials in Woodbury have just faded away. It takes a special individual to enter today’s political environment, one filled with disrespect and attacks (often anonymous) from those who never will step up to the plate and run for office.
I served for several years with Mike on the Woodbury Parks Commission. Mike showed talent and was able to get his message across. I contributed to and supported his first campaign.
As for his second campaign and the “flier” incident - politics, unfortunately, is and always will be dirty. However, Mike lost my vote, and I believe the election, because of his failure to adequately explain to the public his position change on Woodbury Junction.
Fred Ungerer
Highland Mills
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Woodbury's topsy-turvy politics
Woodbury's topsy-turvy politics
By John Sullivan
January 01, 2008
Times Herald-Record
WOODBURY — It's not always easy to know who your friends are if you're a politician in this town.
Where else would you find a Democrat shouting at her own party committee boss for allegedly working with Republicans? Republican Committee members campaigning for Democrats? And Republicans and Democrats attacking their own party heads for suspected involvement in a misinformation campaign to oust two Town Council members?
Crossing party lines is not uncommon at the municipal level, but current and former elected officials claim that the two-party machine in Woodbury has been replaced by a practice of backroom deals. The culprits, these critics say, belong to an old guard of power brokers in Republican and Democratic parties.
Sparking the outrage was the distribution of fliers meant to smear Republican council incumbents Michael Aronowitz and Lorraine McNeill. Supervisor John Burke, a Democrat, has taken responsibility for the fliers, which falsely blamed Aronowitz and McNeill for raising tax assessments in a populous town-house complex.
But some Republicans say they believe that members of their own party had a hand in the plot. Aronowitz said he believes that the chairman of the town Republican Committee worked directly or indirectly with Burke to oust him and McNeil.
He is joined by Republican Town Board members Geraldine Gianzero, Mike Queenan and former Republican Supervisor Sheila Conroy in condemning what they believe has been a practice of quarterbacking elections by a small group of power brokers in both parties.
Manny Mangual, the town Democratic chairman, denied any knowledge of such cooperation among members of his committee. Ralph Caruso, head of the Woodbury Republicans, could not be reached.
But Gianzero, who is former vice chairwoman of the Woodbury Republicans, said the latest elections wouldn't have been the first time that members of the Republican and Democratic committees worked together.
"We call them the Republicrats," said Gianzero. "They are a few Republicans and a few Democrats, who have joined forces to get only their own people, whether Republican or Democrat, elected."
Some in the town talk of mutiny by several Republicans, as well as a few Democrats, against their party leaderships over the issue of development.
On one side is a new generation of politicians led by Gianzero and Conroy, who claim that the older, entrenched group of town leaders want control of both town and village governments and will use any tactic to get their puppets into power.
On the other side are leaders, including Burke, Caruso and former town Democratic Committee Chairman Bob Donnelly, who view a new group of leaders as too accommodating to developers.
"From now on, it's going to be who represents the developers and who represents the people who live here," Donnelly said.
jsullivan@th-record.com
By John Sullivan
January 01, 2008
Times Herald-Record
WOODBURY — It's not always easy to know who your friends are if you're a politician in this town.
Where else would you find a Democrat shouting at her own party committee boss for allegedly working with Republicans? Republican Committee members campaigning for Democrats? And Republicans and Democrats attacking their own party heads for suspected involvement in a misinformation campaign to oust two Town Council members?
Crossing party lines is not uncommon at the municipal level, but current and former elected officials claim that the two-party machine in Woodbury has been replaced by a practice of backroom deals. The culprits, these critics say, belong to an old guard of power brokers in Republican and Democratic parties.
Sparking the outrage was the distribution of fliers meant to smear Republican council incumbents Michael Aronowitz and Lorraine McNeill. Supervisor John Burke, a Democrat, has taken responsibility for the fliers, which falsely blamed Aronowitz and McNeill for raising tax assessments in a populous town-house complex.
But some Republicans say they believe that members of their own party had a hand in the plot. Aronowitz said he believes that the chairman of the town Republican Committee worked directly or indirectly with Burke to oust him and McNeil.
He is joined by Republican Town Board members Geraldine Gianzero, Mike Queenan and former Republican Supervisor Sheila Conroy in condemning what they believe has been a practice of quarterbacking elections by a small group of power brokers in both parties.
Manny Mangual, the town Democratic chairman, denied any knowledge of such cooperation among members of his committee. Ralph Caruso, head of the Woodbury Republicans, could not be reached.
But Gianzero, who is former vice chairwoman of the Woodbury Republicans, said the latest elections wouldn't have been the first time that members of the Republican and Democratic committees worked together.
"We call them the Republicrats," said Gianzero. "They are a few Republicans and a few Democrats, who have joined forces to get only their own people, whether Republican or Democrat, elected."
Some in the town talk of mutiny by several Republicans, as well as a few Democrats, against their party leaderships over the issue of development.
On one side is a new generation of politicians led by Gianzero and Conroy, who claim that the older, entrenched group of town leaders want control of both town and village governments and will use any tactic to get their puppets into power.
On the other side are leaders, including Burke, Caruso and former town Democratic Committee Chairman Bob Donnelly, who view a new group of leaders as too accommodating to developers.
"From now on, it's going to be who represents the developers and who represents the people who live here," Donnelly said.
jsullivan@th-record.com
Monday, December 31, 2007
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Friday, December 21, 2007
Thank You Woodbury
It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the people of Woodbury for the past four years. I will forever be inspired by the determination and dedication of my fellow Town Council members…as well as grateful to the many people I have met and worked with while in office. I am proud of what we accomplished, proud that, during my term, in many ways, we improved the quality of life in Woodbury.
On December 31, 2007 my term ends. Like many of you, I'm looking forward to spending the holidays with family and friends both old and new.
I’m not entirely sure what I'll do after that. However, I do know that I will not fade into the sunset. There is still so much that needs to get done. I like what I saw and heard from the many residents I spoke with before, during and after this election campaign. Their future and the future of Woodbury are worth fighting for and I will always play an active part in that fight.
An old teacher taught me a valuable lesson when he said, “No matter how hard the loss, defeat might serve as well as victory to shape the soul and let the glory out.”
As one door closes another door opens…but first, before I go, I would like to make a few comments about the recent election just to set the record straight:
As you all may know, I'm a results guy, so, no matter the reason, I admit that my campaign fell short of its goal last November. However, I will always remain humbled by everyone that believed in me enough to give me their time, support and precious vote.
In September, at Woodbury Day, my opponents were having difficulties setting up their Committee to Elect Woodbury Democrats tent. I stopped what I was doing to help them. When it was set up we all shook hands, agreeing to run a clean campaign and just stick to the real issues before us.
We did just that until two days before the election.
I was disgusted when I read the flagrant lies contained in a flyer, those same Committee to Elect Woodbury Democrats, handed out in Timber Ridge and Brookside in an attempt to unethically influence the outcome of the election. This flyer had three blatant lies specifically aimed at voters who were also home owners that the Committee knew were extremely upset because they felt victimized by questionable re-assessments the former Tax Assessor authorized.
By stating in the flyer that, "I hired the Tax Assessor, I knew of the plan to increase those assessments and I approved the plan to increase those assessments my opponents confused voters with lies while stealing their votes and destroying my record in the process.
Number 1,
I wasn't even on the Town Board when the Assessor was hired.
Number 2,
By State law, the Town Board has absolutely no say in what the Assessor does and is never asked to approve any of the Assessor’s actions.
Number 3,
My family and I suffered too, as my home was re-assessed by the same Assessor’s questionable methods as well.
Long before anyone thought about the election, The Town Board had many discussions about the Assessor’s term, start dates, duties and the fact that once appointed the Assessor operates independently of the Town Board.
John Burke, the Supervisor, who claims to have brought back open government and accountability, while he does the exact opposite, knew all along just what the role of the Assessor was.
Therefore, I was in shock and disbelief when the Times Herald Record reported that John Burke was the one, secretly, feeding these lies to the Committee to Elect Woodbury Democrats.
We may never know why John Burke, a retired High School Principal, a person who I trusted and respected chose this unprincipled path of lies and character assassination instead of debating the issues openly and honestly. Perhaps it was because he was allowed to run unopposed.
Carlton Levine and Amidee Haviland lll put their names on the flyer. Even if they somehow didn’t know they were spreading lies, which I find hard to believe, shame on them for not checking the facts first. What a disgraceful and tarnished way for both of them to enter public office.
In fact, The Times Herald Record was so appalled, by the whole sordid episode, that their Editorial of November 13, 2007 called for them all to ”…resign and give Woodbury voters a chance to have an honest election.”
The people of Woodbury deserve much better than this from their elected officials.
History has shown us that candidates and their political committees, who willingly use any devious methods necessary to win, will act in their own best interests first instead of the interests of the people they were elected to serve.
Let their conduct and the conduct of others, just like them, operating in Woodbury, serve as a warning to the people of Woodbury to beware and remain vigilant.
As a life long Martial Artist and Instructor of both adults and children, I have always taught that we should live by the Principles of the Black Belt: Respect, Humility, Perseverance, Honestly and Self-control.
We can only hope when these newly elected officials take office they dig deep down inside themselves and develop some of these principles.
No matter what happens…The fighting spirit of what you and I believe in will live on…The spirit…of doing what is right for Woodbury by putting results for residents first and foremost over any self serving partisanship lie filled agenda.
I shall return…
On December 31, 2007 my term ends. Like many of you, I'm looking forward to spending the holidays with family and friends both old and new.
I’m not entirely sure what I'll do after that. However, I do know that I will not fade into the sunset. There is still so much that needs to get done. I like what I saw and heard from the many residents I spoke with before, during and after this election campaign. Their future and the future of Woodbury are worth fighting for and I will always play an active part in that fight.
An old teacher taught me a valuable lesson when he said, “No matter how hard the loss, defeat might serve as well as victory to shape the soul and let the glory out.”
As one door closes another door opens…but first, before I go, I would like to make a few comments about the recent election just to set the record straight:
As you all may know, I'm a results guy, so, no matter the reason, I admit that my campaign fell short of its goal last November. However, I will always remain humbled by everyone that believed in me enough to give me their time, support and precious vote.
In September, at Woodbury Day, my opponents were having difficulties setting up their Committee to Elect Woodbury Democrats tent. I stopped what I was doing to help them. When it was set up we all shook hands, agreeing to run a clean campaign and just stick to the real issues before us.
We did just that until two days before the election.
I was disgusted when I read the flagrant lies contained in a flyer, those same Committee to Elect Woodbury Democrats, handed out in Timber Ridge and Brookside in an attempt to unethically influence the outcome of the election. This flyer had three blatant lies specifically aimed at voters who were also home owners that the Committee knew were extremely upset because they felt victimized by questionable re-assessments the former Tax Assessor authorized.
By stating in the flyer that, "I hired the Tax Assessor, I knew of the plan to increase those assessments and I approved the plan to increase those assessments my opponents confused voters with lies while stealing their votes and destroying my record in the process.
Number 1,
I wasn't even on the Town Board when the Assessor was hired.
Number 2,
By State law, the Town Board has absolutely no say in what the Assessor does and is never asked to approve any of the Assessor’s actions.
Number 3,
My family and I suffered too, as my home was re-assessed by the same Assessor’s questionable methods as well.
Long before anyone thought about the election, The Town Board had many discussions about the Assessor’s term, start dates, duties and the fact that once appointed the Assessor operates independently of the Town Board.
John Burke, the Supervisor, who claims to have brought back open government and accountability, while he does the exact opposite, knew all along just what the role of the Assessor was.
Therefore, I was in shock and disbelief when the Times Herald Record reported that John Burke was the one, secretly, feeding these lies to the Committee to Elect Woodbury Democrats.
We may never know why John Burke, a retired High School Principal, a person who I trusted and respected chose this unprincipled path of lies and character assassination instead of debating the issues openly and honestly. Perhaps it was because he was allowed to run unopposed.
Carlton Levine and Amidee Haviland lll put their names on the flyer. Even if they somehow didn’t know they were spreading lies, which I find hard to believe, shame on them for not checking the facts first. What a disgraceful and tarnished way for both of them to enter public office.
In fact, The Times Herald Record was so appalled, by the whole sordid episode, that their Editorial of November 13, 2007 called for them all to ”…resign and give Woodbury voters a chance to have an honest election.”
The people of Woodbury deserve much better than this from their elected officials.
History has shown us that candidates and their political committees, who willingly use any devious methods necessary to win, will act in their own best interests first instead of the interests of the people they were elected to serve.
Let their conduct and the conduct of others, just like them, operating in Woodbury, serve as a warning to the people of Woodbury to beware and remain vigilant.
As a life long Martial Artist and Instructor of both adults and children, I have always taught that we should live by the Principles of the Black Belt: Respect, Humility, Perseverance, Honestly and Self-control.
We can only hope when these newly elected officials take office they dig deep down inside themselves and develop some of these principles.
No matter what happens…The fighting spirit of what you and I believe in will live on…The spirit…of doing what is right for Woodbury by putting results for residents first and foremost over any self serving partisanship lie filled agenda.
I shall return…
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