Stuyvesant Democrats

2011 Election Returns for Stuyvesant

2011-11-08T14:21:00.001-05:00

Senator Gillibrand Endorses Lee Jamison

2011-10-26T17:17:00.000-04:00

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand

has endorsed

Lee Jamison

for Stuyvesant

Town Supervisor

Lee Jamison Blasts Chris Gibson's Voting Record

2011-10-16T11:16:00.001-04:00

Democratic candidate for Stuyvesant Supervisor Lee Jamison spoke at a rally against Republican budget cuts at Congressman Chris Gibson's office in Kinderhook.

Stuyvesant Dems Have a Brand New Website

2011-10-14T11:55:00.003-04:00

stuydems.net

Lee Jamison for Stuyvesant Town Supervisor

2011-10-03T21:53:00.001-04:00

Lee Jamison

I moved to Columbia County 30 years agoto escape the suburban sprawl, poor planning and environmentaldegradation that was encroaching on the family dairy farm where Igrew up. I bought an old house to fix up on Riverview Street inStuyvesant for a $30,000 mortgage, now I'm told I have a milliondollar view!

You bet I appreciate the property taxpinch!

We can only solve the property taxproblem by smart economic stimulus and by active grantsmanship, attracting other dollars to the support local infrastructure burden.Sadly our Town Board let $250,000 of GE settlement money forWaterfront development slip through it's fingers this year. Thirtyyears have passed and Stuyvesant has no Waterfront Access Plan. For10 years, $95,000 DOT grant dollars for Depot Restoration has yet togo out to bid. No stimulus funds were requested for anything, yet CSXsnatched up $300,000 each for four grade crossings. That same $1.2million might have repaired the Schoolhouse Rd Bridge.

I hold a Masters of Social Work fromAdelphi University. As Director of Day Services at COARC for 12years, I managed budgets of over $1million and a large staff.Currently, I am providing critically needed outpatient psychiatricservices for people with Developmental Disabilities in ColumbiaCounty through Dennis Marcus MD and Asoc. This was an initiativestarted 11 years ago in response to local need and has succeeded duenot only to lots of work and energy but also team building with otherlike-minded advocates. It has enhanced the quality of life for allof us . To this end, I continue to serve on the Columbia CountyCommunity Services Board Subcommittee for Mental Retardation andDevelopmental Disabilities. This committee is responsible fordeveloping the yearly MR Services Plan for the County.

I raised two children as a singleworking mom. One daughter is now a PhD candidate at UVM in Burlingtonand my son, recently a journalist at the Hudson Register Star, is aMaster's student at NYU. Both were proud Ichabod Crane grads!
I am an effective advocate for what Ibelieve in! I have expertise at both the Town and County level. Ihave testified at various public hearings for DEC to hold LaFargeCement accountable for its effects on the air, soil and water inStuyvesant. I have been an advocate for the Ken Hummel Memorial Park;personally working as a volunteer building trails and organizingbirding, hiking and snowshoeing events at the park.

I have extensive experience oncountywide community boards such as having served as the Presidentof the Board of the Philmont Hearth, 4-H Advisory Committee,Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Kinderhook MemorialLibrary, Stuyvesant Falls Hydro and the Stuyvesant RecreationCommittee. I have worked on a number of local political campaigns aswell as two successful Library 414 Budget resolutions. I have alsobeen involved in organizing and working for local fundraisers for theLibrary, the Recreation Committee, the Stuyvesant Depot Restorationand the Columbia County Historical Society. I am a founding member,volunteer, organizer and vendor for the fifth year of the StuyvesantFarmer's Market. The Farmer's Market has been one of the few economicinitiative in our community in the past years.

I can prioritize, recruit talent,team build, initiate and follow through!

I believe these are all vital qualitiesfor an effective Town Supervisor in Stuyvesant and for an advocate on the Columbia Board of Supervisors!

I appreciate your support.

Fred Heron for Stuyvesant Town Board

2011-10-03T21:48:00.000-04:00

Why do I, an independent, want your vote ? Because I value independent choices.

I feel strongly that there is an intelligent and non-partisan solution to almost every situation. Being bound to a 'party line' or 'party loyalties' can limit people from making the best choices. I'll bet you feel that way, too!

As for our lovely town of Stuyvesant, I feel that political party shouldn't stand in the way of making the best decisions for the Town. From my experience in small business, I find it is best to make decisions based on sound financial reasoning.

As the 5th generation running ST Hudson Sons in Columbia County, I am experienced at bidding, building, contracting, project managing and watching the bottom line. You want someone like me keeping an eye on our new $850,000 bond for the Garage and Salt Barn Project. It these economic hard times, we need to be sure this new 15 year debt is well managed and that we get what we pay for. No Fat! No Favors!

As a licensed plumber, I have been busy solving storm water drainage problems with the recent record-breaking rains. You want my expertise on some of these same problems in Town, especially on Oak Leaf Drive. I've been surprised that homeowners think that the Town can do ?nothing? to help. That is a sad legacy of a lack of leadership and it's time for a change.

I'm also surprised at the number of nasty and expensive lawsuits in our Town. I'm surprised that the current board has taken such a dismissive attitude toward State Court funded, free mediation services for municipalities. Surely, that is a reasonable first step to take in most any dispute. And it saves tax dollars.

These are examples of non-partisan issues that need to be addressed in our Town. Time for more independent thinking, more independent choices and independent voting!

Ed Kiernan for Stuyvesant Town Board

2011-10-03T21:42:00.003-04:00

Ed Kiernan has lived inStuyvesant for 18 years. He served for 6 years in the NY NationalGuards, famed 69th Regiment. A member of the Stuyvesant Falls Fire company, Ed is alsoon the budget committee and the Pastoral Council of St Joseph’sChurch in Stuyvesant Falls. For over thirty years he has worked inboth the private and public sectors, including serving as a BudgetAnalyst with the New York City Council. Currently he is an AccountExecutive with BlueShield of Northeastern New York specializing inMedicare insurance.
Ed lives with his wife Nancy and youngest son onOak Leaf Drive.
He graduated with honors from John Jay College ofCriminal Justice and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Ed believesthat elected officials should serve the public with integrity, commonsense, and transparency.

The Best Team of Competent Candidates for Columbia County

2011-09-23T02:57:00.003-04:00

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

This year in Columbia County, voters are going to have a real choice. They can choose whether to support the same old bunch of people, who don't seem to get much done. Or they can chose the incredibly qualified Democrats who are running Countywide this year.

Competency!

(l-r) Richard Koweek, Peter Stoll, Eugene Keeler, Dr George Davis

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Judge Richard Koweek for County Judge

Richard Koweek grew up and has lived is entire life in Columbia County. He raised great kids here too.

He's practiced most every kind of law that is handled at County Court. He was also elected City Judge in 2009 and currently sits in Hudson City Court. That experience will serve him well on the bench. It will also serve the people of Columbia County well. His opponent is sorely lacking the broad based experience that Judge Koweek brings to the bench.

County Court jurisdiction is broad and diverse, and the position of County Court Judge is multifaceted. It requires a person who can deal with emotional family issues with sensitivity and understanding yet is firm and forthright when dealing with people who have harmed others. He also understands the legal complexities of estate and civil practice. But most of all, he is fair and respects all who come before the Court.

Judge Koweek’s background, temperament, and experience uniquely qualify him to be the next Columbia County Court judge

Visit Judge Koweek's website.

Judge Koweek has been endorsed by:
Columbia County Democratic Committee, Working Families Party, and the Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Peter Stoll CPA for County Treasurer

Peter Stoll is a Certified Public Accountant licensed and registered in New York State with extensive audit and income tax experience. He also has an extensive knowledge of information technology, financial systems, and internal controls. Skills that have been sorely lacking, as our county has thrashed back and forth from one unthought out scheme after another.
Peter Stoll has managed the finances for several mid-size businesses for the past 35 years. In this way he has developed the skills required to manage, monitor, and control the way public money is spent in Columbia County. He has a record of implementing major cost savings. Something that the next few years are going to require. He is eager to put his skills to work for the benefit of all of us, and to help reduce the cost of managing the County’s government.

These times require that we seek out and hire only the best people we can find to help solve our financial situation. That is what elections are supposed to be about, hiring the best person for the job at hand. We have found the best person for the job. He is Peter Stoll, the only CPA in the race.

Learn more about Peter on his website.

Peter Stoll has been endorsed by:
Columbia County Democratic Committee, Working Families Party, and the Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Eugene Keeler for District Attorney

Gene Keeler is an institution in Columbia County. He is a former elected district attorney and has heldthe positions of public defender, conflict public defender, and,currently, director of legal and advocacy services at COARC. Geneholds a J.D. degree from the University of Memphis and a master’sdegree from the University of Tennessee. He is an attorney with 30years of general practice that includes criminal law and elder law,and is a licensed master’s-level social worker.Gene Keeler knows what is wrong with the system, because he has seen it from every side.

He has been telling the people of this county that the system is rotten and broken for years. Everyone knows about the cronyism, favoritism and shoddy work at the DA's office. But only one person was willing to stand up and call it out for what it was. That man is Gene Keeler. Lots of people have no problem with what goes on there. Because they figure that if they ever need to get off of a DWI or a domestic assault, that there familial, business or political connections, will get them off. When they have issues with the police or the DA's office, everything is just taken care of, with easy sentences if it even goes to court and rarely does anyone read about it in the paper.

But the regular Jane or Joe, who work hard, pay their taxes try to be good citizens, get the book thrown at them, in order to keep the conviction rate high at the DA's office. Political connections should not buy you a "get out of jail free card". Gene has promised to end the “get out of jail free” program for the well-connected. Instead he will give all citizens equal treatment under the law. Isn't that what we should all expect?

He cares about justice, not statistics. While at the same time, he will make sure that all evidence gets to court and will ooperate fully with the police and community agencies. He will work full time to save the taxpayers money, and will work especially hard to assist victims and to lock up hard-core criminals.

It's time to clean up the mess at the District Attorney's office and stop playing political games with people's lives. Gene will make it a place where all of the citizens of Columbia County will feel that they have an impartial and fair person sitting in the prosecutors chair. Eugene Keeler is the right person for District Attorney.

Eugene Keeler has been endorsed by:
Columbia County Democratic Committee Working Families Party, and the Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Dr. George Davis for County Coroner

Dr. Davis has served one four year term as County Coroner. He is also the only doctor in recent memory to serve as Coroner. Shockingly, the Coroner's position does not require any medical training at all. All that is required is getting the most votes on Election Day.

Not many people understand what a corner does. Most people think that the coroner pronounces people "dead". In fact the coroner often gets to the scene quite a while after a person has died. What the coroner mostly does, is investigate why or how the person died. In essence the coroner is the advocate for the deceased.

Dr. Davis has four years experience as County Coroner. He has 30 years’ experience in family practice medicine in Columbia County. He has done extensive training in death investigation. He has a detailed knowledge of the legal system and ethics, and holds a Master’s Degree in bioethics, along with extensive experience in grief work.

He is the advocate for those who have no voices. He is the compassionate doctor who tends to the grieving families. He is the only candidate in the race for coroner with the education, experience and medical training to do the job properly.

He has earned the thanks and apprecaition from so many people in Columbia County, because he was there for them at one of the worst times in their life. He's earned their respect and he should have your vote. Keep the doctor at the corner's office.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

2011-09-20T20:19:00.001-04:00

HVALF &UH CLC -Columbia Chapter Announce Endorsed Candidates

Tonight the Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation and the Upper Hudson Central Labor Council Columbia Chapter announced its endorsements in the 2011 Columbia County elections. The announcements were made inside the SEIU 1199 offices in Hudson, NY.

“The Upper Hudson Central Labor Council is pleased to be making endorsements in this year's elections. As we get further into the election season we will be working to see our candidates elected. Pandering to wealthy corporations has not produced the jobs we need locally. By working with the Hudson and Columbia Democratic candidates we will put our local economy back on track,” said Mike Lonigro, President of the Upper Hudson Central Labor Council.

“We have great candidates in Columbia. We will unite to protect Columbia’s middle class and save jobs and services,” said Paul Ellis-Graham, President of the Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation.

"The healthcare workers of 1199SEIU are looking forward to providing the "boots on the ground" in order to elect the candidates who understand and are committed to solving the problems that working families face today. All politics is local--and we are taking these races very seriously," said Antonella Pechtel, Political Director, 1199 SEIU Hudson Valley/Capital Region.

“The Columbia County Democrats, together with the Central Labor Council, will keep fighting for this county’s middle class. We say no to the extreme right’s anti-worker agenda and are committed to saving jobs,” said Cyndy Hall, Chair of the Columbia Democrats.

"The Hudson City Democratic Committee is grateful to have labor’s support in this year's election. The support of organized labor helped our five excellent candidates who faced primaries, to win those races by unheard of margins. Together, we will go on to win in November and to change Hudson and Columbia County,” said Victor Mendolia, Hudson City Democratic Chairman.

“Collective bargaining works when management and labor negotiates from positions of respect. The HVALF/UHCLC endorsements mean that within this field of candidates for Columbia County offices there is respect for organized labor. Such mutual respect is a building block for a fair deal for workers and taxpayers,” said Ernie Reis, a retired teacher and member of the New York State United Teachers says.
This announcement emphasized the desire by both Labor and candidates running for office to work together to bring good government that will serve the middle class during this very difficult economic downturn. For many years Columbia wanted the support of Labor, and it was through the hard work of Mike Lonigro, Beth Soto, Director of the HVALF and the Columbia Community that this coalition was formed.

2011-09-20T11:39:00.000-04:00

$16 Million for Old Walmart? - Lee's Sept 20 Letter to the Editor

To the editor:

The Board of Supervisors have balked at committing to a $16 million project to buy and renovate the abandoned Walmart on Fairview Ave in the Town of Greenport. As well they might! They have been struggling among a bunch of bad choices for years.

Now, the sweetheart lease ( $30,000 per month rent! ) at 25 Railroad Ave is finally ending and better choices can be made.

Why should the County embark on a $16 million project at Walmart when that money will provide not one dime of services to needy people in our County? They shouldn't.

This $16 million will go to a real estate deal and renovation of a too-big, ugly, depressing and expensive building and it will still be a too-big, ugly, depressing and expensive building – that needs a new roof! Then, it may have with a 20 year shelf-life.

In fact, Walmart is so big that it's actually too big for DSS! The next desperate proposal was to make use of ALL this space, under one leaky roof, and drain some twenty-four County programs from Hudson -- Aging to Vets -- out to Walmart. Ideas were invented for more storage, garages, lunchrooms, fitness areas – and three additional not-for-profits to be named later (in their dreams). This was not exactly a welcome idea to Hudson City leadership.

Next, the price tag for all these moves starts nudging $24 million, according to Hudson Supervisor Bill Hughes. We haven't even started to figure in ongoing yearly expenses for heat, utilities, etc. for all this unneeded space. We haven't even started figuring the economic toll of the abandoned office space in Hudson.

Time to think outside the Big Box!

This is the 21st Century. This is the era of laptops, fax machines, cell-phones, smart-phones and iPads. If the issue is really only space for DSS, let's put service providers out in the community where people live. There are plenty of existing models for home-delivered services. I worked in DSS's Teen Parent Program which was such a model. Once a month I handed in bills and reports and met with a supervisor. Otherwise, I was out in the field with moms and babies, connecting them with housing, health clinics, daycare, parenting education, GED, shopping and jobs. I wasn't stuck in a cubicle pushing paper while stressed people with cranky children waited in line in a big, ugly, depressing , expensive building.

Paperwork can be digitized and done from home, clients without computers can access the web at their school or library, supervisors can meet with caseworkers in various community centers and Town Halls around the County, staff training can be held at Columbia Greene Community College or provider agencies, auditors and billing staff can be tucked in with other agency billing offices. Caseworkers can hit the street and become real community workers.

Let's spend our dwindling tax dollars getting important services to the needy and creating jobs in our community – and not a dime on another Big Box!

Sincerely,
Lee Jamison

2011-09-15T15:06:00.000-04:00

4th Annual Celebrate the Harvest

Chris and Dave are proposing to do outdoor, Louisiana Deep-Fried Turkeys and more---

Colin McCoy will be back with his Fiddle Music and the FDR fight song.

Support and Meet the Candidates! They are Already Working for You!

Saturday October 2, 2011from 4pm to 7pm
at the home of Chris Bortugno III
63 Bortugno Lane
off County Route 25
Stuyvesant Falls, New York
Donations cheerfully accepted
Vegetarian Fare Available!

CALL LEE JAMISON AT 758 7347 FOR MORE INFO

2011-09-13T17:40:00.000-04:00

StuyvesantDemocrats Hold Caucus

Enthusiastic Stuyvesant Democrats meton Friday night, August 19th, 2011, at the Historic Rail Station toselect a slate of Candidates for open positions on the Stuyvesant Town Council.

Nominated for Supervisor was LeeJamison, a 29 year resident of Stuyvesant Landing, who bringsmanagement, problem solving and community organizing skills from acareer providing services to neighbors with special needs .Having come from a dairy family in Orange County NY, sheholds a Masters Degree in Social Work from Adelphi University . Lee has been an active volunteer on the Kinderhook Library Board ofTrustees, the MRDD SubCommittee of the County Community ServicesBoard, COARC, Camphill, Meals on Wheels, the Stuyvesant FarmersMarket, the Depot and the Recreation Committee. Neighbors know her asa tireless advocate for fair assessments, clean air,public access to the Hudson, for the Stuyvesant Falls Hydro andother, green economic initiatives. She came within 10 votes ofdefeating Supervisor Bertram last election cycle. This time, Bertramis not seeking re-election. Lee's daughter, Emily, is a Phd candidateat UVM in cellular biology and reporter son, Jamie, is on his way toNYU for a graduate degree in Journalism. Both were Ichabod graduates.Lee has been endorsed by the Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation.

Fred Heron was nominated for a positionas Town Council. He is the 5th generation of ST Hudson Sons, aplumbing contract business in Columbia County since 1887. He and hiswife Rue, bought the 50+ acre, Wied Farm on Cty 46. Hecurrently leases out the fields and his wife is in year two ofraising, soon to be, organic tomatoes. As a small businessman, Fredis very savvy about planning, zoning and economic issues in theCounty. He brings contracting, bidding and building trade know-how tooversight of Town projects. You will see Fred working at the CountyFair as a longtime member of the Columbia County AgriculturalAssociation.

Ed Kiernan, a 17 year resident ofStuyvesant was nominated for one of two positions as Town Council. Amedicare expert for Blue Shield of North Eastern NY, Ed is an activevolunteer in the Stuyvesant Falls Fire Department, DemocraticCommittee and St Joseph's Catholic Church. He is concerned aboutlong-standing, unaddressed, storm water drainage issues that areruining property values in his development. Ed lives in Oak LeafDrive with wife, Nancy and son Ian.

Stuyvesant Democrats believe thattheir neighbors will join with them in electing a slate committed toOpen Government, Fiscal Responsibility and a talent for conflictresolution and intergovernmental cooperation . The slate has alsobeen endorsed by the Working Families Party and will be in thePrimary Election as a write-in for the Independence Party.

Contact: Lee Jamison, Chair Stuyvesant Democratic Committee Box 154 Stuyvesant NY 12173 cell# 518-859-0128

Fred Heron, Lee Jamison,Ed Kiernan

2011-09-13T17:21:00.001-04:00

Fred Heron

Whydo I want your vote?

I aman unaffiliated voter running on the Democratic line. I feel stronglythat there is an intelligent and non-partisan solution to almostevery situation. Being bound to a 'party line' or 'party loyalties'can limit people from making the best choices. I'll bet you feel thatway, too!

Asfor our lovely town of Stuyvesant, I feel that political partyshouldn't stand in the way of making the best decisions for the Town.From my experience in small business, I find it is best to makedecisions based on sound financial reasoning.

Asthe 5^th generation running ST Hudson Sons in ColumbiaCounty, I am experienced at bidding, building, contracting, projectmanaging and watching the bottom line. You want someone like mekeeping an eye on our new $850,000 bond for the Garage and Salt BarnProject. It these economic hard times, we need to be sure this new 15year debt is well managed and that we get what we pay for. No Fat! NoFavors!

As alicensed plumber, I have been busy solving storm water drainageproblems with the recent record-breaking rains. You want my expertiseon some of these same problems in Town, especially on Oak Leaf Drive.I've been surprised that homeowners think that the Town can do“nothing” to help. That is a sad legacy of a lack of leadershipand it's time for a change.

I'malso surprised at the number of nasty and expensive lawsuits in ourTown. I'm surprised that the current board has taken such adismissive attitude toward State Court funded, free mediationservices for municipalities. Surely, that is a reasonable first stepto take in most any dispute. And it saves tax dollars.

Theseare examples of non-partisan issues that need to be addressed in ourTown. Time for more independent thinking, more independent choicesand independent voting!

Are Some Voters More Equal Than Others?

2009-12-07T10:15:00.004-05:00

The following letter was sent to the Register Star by a challenged Stuyvesant voter, but it was not printed. In fact, I haven't seen a single letter on the topic of the challenged votes on the Register Star's opinion pages. Why not? Clearly it's not because they aren't receiving any. (I was a challenged voter, and mine was not printed either.) Even though the challenge was dropped in all but Taghkanic, it was only because they'd gained enough information from the challenge process to know that those votes were no longer needed to win or lose. And I would be surprised if they weren't receiving letters from still-challenged Taghkanic voters, and their neighbors. What gives?

-Michelle Richardson

To the editor,

Only because we are Democrats and have an apartment in New York City, for the second time this year my wife and I have had our ballots challenged by the Republicans. We are stunned. How is this possible? Every citizen has the right to establish one residence as the primary one, the place from which they vote. For us, for 19 years, that place has been on Ridge Road in Stuyvesant, and I don't believe we've missed a single election. We happen to be here four or five days every week, but that's really irrelevant. The fact is that the law clearly permits us to be registered to vote from our primary residence and from no other site. We faithfully pay our taxes, and no one has suggested that we pay less because we have a second home or because we have no children in the school system. I'm an 83 year old veteran who has worked hard all his life and treated his neighbors with respect. It is more than a little distressing to find that because I am a Democrat in a Republican dominated town that I am being treated as a fraud and a second class citizen.

Sincerely,

Ed Kornbluh

Voter Rights at Risk

2009-11-29T22:16:00.009-05:00

by Michelle Richardson

This was submitted as a letter to the editor of the Register Star, but was not printed.

A thirty-six year resident, farmer’s market organizer and Meals-on-Wheels coordinator who recently underwent major surgery. A student, ICHS graduate and Columbia County native away at college. A twenty-year resident and University at Albany professor. A town council candidate hired to assist voters with the new ballot marking machines at other poll sites in the county on Election Day.

What do they have in common? These are just some of the Stuyvesant residents, deemed likely to vote Row A, whose absentee ballots were challenged by Supervisor Valerie Bertram's campaign and the Columbia County Republican Committee.

Most of them are not second homeowners, but if Mr. Fingar’s detectives did not find clear connections and commitment to Stuyvesant, they weren’t doing their jobs. Fraud? Hardly.

Republican lawyers challenged votes, along party lines, due to "missing information" on the absentee ballot application provided by the Board of Elections -- information that the form did not ask for!

Voting is a constitutional right. How can they justify partisan challenges under the guise of application technicalities? What have we come to when people with money and power can disenfranchise our neighbors, while talking out of the other side of their mouth about “one person, one vote”? Whose veracity is in question?

I hope people speak out against this injustice regardless of party affiliation, and hold the county Republican party accountable. After all, each of our rights are only as secure as our neighbors'.

Stuyvesant: Worth Fixing?

2009-10-30T22:23:00.000-04:00

Supervisor Bertram's "update" on the Schoolhouse Road Bridge still leaves us with questions.

Too expensive to fix?
Of course it's expensive. We can't fix it alone, and we're not suggesting that the town do that. We need help. We get help every year for each of our 27 miles of roadway.
Assemblyman Tim Gordon offered to help the town apply for stimulus money this spring. Councilwoman Roz Gumaer hand carried an application to Town Hall. Supervisor Bertram declined to complete it.

Too expensive not to fix?
Farmers need this bridge. Commuters need it. Delivery trucks need it. Ambulances need it.

Why was the bridge project not shovel-ready?
The bridge was closed two years ago! Why no progress? Other towns received millions in stimulus funds. Nothing for Stuyvesant.

What would the maintenance costs be for the town?
Minimal! Engineer Prof. Robert Clark tells us that pre-fab bridges are virtually maintenance-free for 50-75 years. The Highway department was already paving it. What else is there? What's the problem?

What is the impact of the closed bridge?
Longer travel times for residents to work or the grocery store and for farmers to market and fields. Ichabod Crane school buses turn around on Rt. 9J at peak drive times. Residents continue to raise questions about emergency response times.

Is it better to be proactive than to make excuses?
We think so, especially since stimulus money is OUR money. Other towns have received stimulus grants for road and bridge repair, with no match required.

CSX does not depend on the bridge, but many Stuyvesant residents do!

A Hard Look at Assessments in Stuyvesant

2009-10-13T21:42:00.008-04:00

This was originally published as a My View piece in the Register Star.

"Take a hard look at system before trying to fix it", October 8, 2009

by Martin Roby, Stuyvesant

After reading New York State Senator Steve Saland’s recent My View, I am convinced he does not understand the property tax issues or the meaning of the word reform. Raising state taxes and passing it out like candy to pay property taxes is not going to reform anything.

Property taxes are high because our towns and county spend too much. Each year, spending increases. The town of Stuyvesant just spent over $4,000 to print a town calendar! These towns maintain frivolous spending by inflating assessments.

The assessment process is complicated and vague. The average property owner has little ammunition to grieve an assessment. There is too little oversight, too much room for error and too much leeway to favor the well-connected, increasing the burden on others. In the end you end up having to pay an attorney to sue your town, who hires an attorney using your tax dollars.

Towns are divided into arbitrary “real estate neighborhoods” that determine whether nearby comparable sales or features affect their property values. By changing the neighborhood boundaries, it is possible to include or exclude a sale from the comparables to achieve a desired result. In Stuyvesant, some neighborhoods pay “view taxes” through a higher value placed on their lot. But not all! Much of Sharptown Road has a view of rolling hills, farms and preserved land, with breathtaking views of the Catskills and Berkshires. Yet they don’t pay a “view tax” like the residents at Stuyvesant Landing, who pay for a view of the river. Is it just coincidence that our town supervisor and other well-connected people live on Sharptown Road? I invite anyone to drive through these two areas and explain how the system is fair.

Another way to manipulate assessments is the property description. A few years ago, my assessment jumped suddenly without explanation, and I became determined to understand the assessment system. I discovered that my property inventory included a finished basement. They did not notify me or tell me why my assessment increased, but suddenly I was over-assessed for an improvement that I did not have. It took months of repeated freedom of information (FOIL) requests to gain an understanding of the inventory system. How many are paying taxes on bogus features or improvements and don’t even know it? How many well-connected people are not paying for features that they do have?

Land description also affects assessed value. A land-locked Stuyvesant resident with a pond was being taxed $40,000 for a water front lot, while other well connected people were assessed at $8,000 per acre for riverfront property with boat access. Some are charged $30,000+ for a primary lot, while others pay only a few thousand for “tillable land” regardless of how buildable it is.

Property inventory cards break out a parcel’s assessment so you can see your features, land and property descriptions, and comparables. They allow you to compare features and their values with other properties. In Stuyvesant, getting inventory cards requires knowledge that they exist, FOIL requests with precise wording, several hundred dollars in fees and strong legs to jump through hoops. My requests for electronic data were denied because, according to Supervisor Bertram, the town does not have the ability to export the records, even though I provided a link to the instruction manual online. How can the town analyze the data if they can’t run reports? How do they know that GAR did a good job for the $60,000 they were paid to reassess?

Next, I requested paper inventory cards and paid a large fee, but the property value data was zeroed out. After rewording my request to ensure I would receive complete data records, I scanned and posted the cards on my web site to help others understand how the system works (http://www.eichybush.com). I would like to be able to do the same for the rest of the town, without incurring fees for FOIL requests.

We won’t have reform unless we look hard at the system. We need transparency and oversight. Towns can have a vested interest in keeping public information about properties and the process to a minimum so they can keep assessed values high. If they are prone to favor certain people, the opportunity is there. Making inventory information more accessible will allow residents to understand their assessments and compare their property with others. I don’t think it is too much to ask.

I have discussed these issues with Lee Jamison, candidate for Stuyvesant town supervisor. Ms. Jamison agreed that transparency is essential. If she is elected, she will allow residents access to this public information. I am encouraged by Ms. Jamison’s support of real property tax reform.

Then Sen. Saland won’t need to raise taxes on the rest of the state to pay for Stuyvesant’s calendar.

Storm Drainage on Oak Leaf Drive

2009-10-13T21:39:00.005-04:00

by Lee Jamison

Anyone who lives in Stuyvesant's Oak Leaf Drive development, or who has friends who live in Oak Leaf Drive or who, maybe, ever went campaigning door-to-door knows that the most critical issue on homeowners minds is storm water drainage. The houses look comfortable, modest, tidy and pretty but a sharper eye soon sees signs of run-off problems.

Some of you think, after years of no formal response from the Town, that there is nothing that can be done. Some have watched repaving by the Highway Department and felt the flooding only got worse. Many have spent thousands of dollars fixing water damage to their homes. Others wonder if they can ever sell their homes. Others fear losing their homes. Some say they are ready to sue the Town.

Some folks came to a Town Board Meeting looking to air fears that their house was actually washing down the hill. A Town Official responded, "It's not my fault that water runs down hill!"

At this same meeting the Town Attorney, Tal Rappleyea declined to speak to these homeowners, stating that if they were threatening to sue the Town, then the discussion needed to be between the lawyers.

Tal did give some informal history on the issue, stating that the original developer never gave easements for ditches to the Town. So, the Town assumed responsibility for paving and plowing Oak Leaf Drive but was not able to create drainage. Tal felt the homeowners had two choices:
1. Sign easements and the Town would do drainage ditches
2. Create your own management district, hire an engineer and contract for their own drainage---at your expense

I spoke to a neighboring town with a similar problem in a development. That Town initially tried to help homeowners with drainage via the highway department working with general funds. They discovered they could access grant money and bonds by establishing a Water Drainage District. To date they have funds for the design phase and now have a design in hand. They are moving forward. The Soil and Water Conservation Office in Ghent offers information on ideas a homeowner can use for do-it yourself remediation such as porous pavers and rain garden catchment landscaping. They have on site examples in Ghent and Lee has successfully used the parking area paver idea at her house.

With some 40 homes, Oak Leaf represents over 5% of Stuyvesant's housing stock. We can't afford to let these properties deteriorate by doing nothing for another 25 years.

Stuyvesant deserves a Town Board that will finally take leadership on this issue.

Stuyvesant deserves a Town Board that helps people keep their home. Common sense?

Vote for Lee , Mark, Michelle, Nancy, Mike and Bill on the Democratic and CommonSense line.

We're already working for you!

Stuyvesant Falls Hydro Electric Station Groundbreaking

2009-07-01T16:23:00.000-04:00

Albany Engineering Corporation and the Town of Stuyvesant will co-host a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the official start of rehabilitation activities for the 110-year old Stuyvesant Falls Hydroelectric Station.

This event will feature a "turbine raising" to signify commencement of the rehabilitation work that will restore this unique facility to operating condition.

The event starts at 9am on Saturday July 11 and will include remarks from people that have been instrumental in bringing this project to fruition.
There will also be a question and answer session.

Refreshments will be provided.

Attendance is by invitation only in view of both the limited parking and the site's condition in active construction.

If you wish to attend, please call Albany Engineering's Wendy Carey at 518 456 7712, extension 401 or email wendy@albanyengineering.com.

Who Does the Town Board Work For?

2008-11-28T18:00:00.005-05:00

Below is the text of a letter that I mailed to the town regarding the current practice of scheduling public hearings for budgets and legislation immediately before the vote. I would like to see the town amend its procedures regarding the scheduling of public hearings.

-Michelle Richardson

---------------

November 28, 2008

Ms. Valerie Bertram

Town of Stuyvesant Supervisor

PO Box 250

Stuyvesant, NY 12173

Dear Ms. Bertram;

I am writing to request that the Town of Stuyvesant amend its procedures regarding the scheduling of public hearings for budgets and new legislation, to allow for public hearing sessions of adequate length, and to allow time for council members to consider public input and possible amendment.

The purpose of a public hearing is to obtain public comment, and ideally that input is carefully considered and applied to legislative and budget decisions. The public hearing for the 2009 town budget was allocated thirty minutes. It took place after the third and final budget workshop and immediately before the town board meeting when the vote was scheduled.

Hearings should be allocated sufficient time so that everyone who wishes to speak has the opportunity to do so, and should not end until there are no further questions or comments from the attendees. Thirty minutes for presentation and comment on a budget that contained a 7% tax rate increase and pay increases for council members and town employees, in an economic environment of job insecurity, severe state budget cuts and revenue losses, seems insufficient. Since the comment period was cut short before audience members indicated that they had no further comments or questions, I am concerned that not everyone had the chance to speak.

Second, the timing did not allow the town board consideration, discussion or amendment based on taxpayer input. The vote took place the same night, with no break following the hearing. The final workshop for the budget had already taken place. Holding the public hearing prior to the final workshop would allow the board to consider and incorporate input and make any needed amendments before voting.

I believe that addressing these changes in the town’s procedures will support responsive representative government and wise legislative and budget decisions.

Sincerely,

Michelle Richardson