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[email all 25 of us at countyle...@dutchessny.gov-- to follow good examples of Rockland and Orange counties here in Hudson Valley (and recommendation of Ulster County Comptroller)-- and ban pay-to-play conflicts of interest in our county government re: huge county contracts, big donations-- leave unions alone!] |
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C & S Engineers of Syracuse got $253,000 in county contracts last year, $139,000 in 2015, $235,000 in 2014, $361,000 in 2013, $787,000 in 2012, and $377,000 in 2011- they gave Molinaro $7830 over the last six years.
Clough Harbor & Associates LLP of Albany got $296,000 in county contracts last year, $150,000 in 2015, $53,000 in 2014, $27,000 in 2013, $184,000 in 2012, and $286,000 in 2011- they gave Molinaro $1000 in 2011, 2012, and 2013.
Compass Company Consultants/Compass Group USA of NYC got $542,000 in county contracts last year, $257,000 in 2015, #499,000 in 2014, $477,000 in 2013, $470,000 in 2012, and $447,000 in 2011- they gave Molinaro $8500 Nov. 9, 2012.
Creighton Manning Engineering LLP of Albany got $14,000 in in county contracts in 2016, $20,000 in 2015, and $68,000 in 2014- they gave him $1200 in 2014.
Anthony Erdman Associates Inc. of Rochester got $354,000 in county contracts last year, $138,000 in 2015, $100,000 in 2013, $25,000 in 2012, and $40,000 in 2011- Anthony Erdman Employees PAC gave Molinaro $740 in 2011 and 2013.
Labella Associates PC of Rochester received $492,000 in county contracts in 2016, $5,000 in 2015, $11,500 in 2013, $53,000 in 2012, $70,000 in 2011; they gave Molinaro $1,050 in 2013 and 2014.
Page Park Associates got $692,000 in county contracts last year, $460,000 in 2015, $689,000 in 2014, $500,000 in 2013; H.G. Page & Sons gave Molinaro $3000 June 17, 2014, and various members of the Page family gave him $17,375 over the last six years (note-- current County Comptroller Jim Coughlan is way too buddy-buddy with the Page family-- refuses to speak out re: pay-to-play conflicts of interest in
Peckham Industries got $1,738,000 in county contracts in 2016, $1,950,000 in 2014, $1.2 million in 2013, $1.4 million in 2012, and $17.000 in 2011-- they gave Molinaro $5000 over the last six years.
The Estate of Jean W. Patrick received $13,000 in 2016, $7,500 in 2015, $24,000 in 2014 and Jean W. Patrick received $175,000 in contracts in 2014, $265,000 in 2013, $306,000 in 2012, $292,000 in 2011: Jean Patrick Legal Life Tent gave Molinaro a total of $14,200 in 2013-2016 and Jean Patrick gave a private donation of $1,500 in 2011.
Corbally Gartland and Rappleyea LLP got $12,000 in county contracts last year, $2700 in 2012-they gave Molinaro $1000 on Apr. 5, 2011 and Allan Rappleyea himself gave him $1750 as well.
Anthony Erdman Associates Inc. of Rochester got $354,000 in county contracts last year, $138,000 in 2015, $100,000 in 2013, $25,000 in 2012, and $40,000 in 2011- Anthony Erdman Employees PAC gave Molinaro $740 in 2011 and 2013.
Ferrari & Sons got $305,000 in county contracts last year- they gave Molinaro $1500 in 2011, 2012, and 2013.
Blacktop Maintenance Corporation got $296,000 in county contracts last year, $281,000 in 2014, $164,000 in 2012, and $1.7 million in 2011; they gave Molinaro a $1000 check May 15, 2014.
Bottini Fuel got $61,000 in county contracts last year, $115,000 in 2015, $201,000 in 2014, $227,000 in 2013, $201,000 in 2012, $219,000 in 2011-they gave Molinaro $7995 over the last six years.
Chazen Engineering got $2865 in county contracts last year, $1500 in county contracts in 2015, $23,000 in 2014, $71,000 in 2013, $23,000 in 2012, and $58,000 in 2011- they gave Molinaro $4378 over the last six years (and Richard Chazen himself gave Molinaro $850).
Veith Enterprises INC. received $11,000 in county contracts in 2016, $3,500 in 2015, $9,500 in in 2014, $12,000 in 2013, $10,000 in 2012 and $10,500 in 2011; they gave Molinaro $500 in July of 2011.
Healey Chevrolet Inc. got $64,000 in county contracts in 2016, $18,000 in 2015, $22,500 in 2014; they gave Molinaro $500 in 2011.
Herb Redl's Guardian Self Storage East LLC got a $500 county contract in 2016, $13,000 in 2015, $6,500 in 2014, $20,000 in 2013, $18,500 in 2012, $20,000 in 2011; On May 29th 2015 they gave Molinaro $500 and Guardian owner Herb Redl gave him $5,300 in 2011 and 2015.
Cablevision/Lightpath received $16,000 in county contracts in 2016, $10,000 in 2015, $16,500 in 2014, $15,000 in 2013, $17,000 in 2012, $18,000 in 2011; they gave Molinaro a total of $7,900 from 2012 to 2015.
Royal Carting's Emil Panichi gets a sweetheart deal re: lowered tipping fee for waste-hauling drop-offs @ our county incinerator in Poughkeepsie-Emil Panichi gave MOlinaro $9950 over the last six years.
I'm dedicating this effort to the late great former Co. Leg. Duane Smith-- who fought the good fight in 2000 and beyond to actually get Dutchess County law passed on this-- and to the late great former County Exec Lucille Pattison-- who, together with yours truly, launched effort here in Dutchess for county-level campaign finance reform to end pay-to-play in 1999 with a massive public forum/meeting at the Family Partnership Center in Poughkeepsie.]
Click on these two links to see letters on all this circulated by yours truly over the last few years, signed by Co. Leg.'s Micki Strawinski, Francena Amparo, and April Marie Farley (last July and this February)-- calling on U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, NYS Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, and the Dutchess County Board of Ethics to investigate the pay-to-play documented below (sadly all have ignored pleas to investigate):
http://dutchessdemocracy.blogspot.com/2015/07/micki-strawinski-april-farley-agree.html ;
http:// dutchessdemocracy.blogspot. com/2016/02/ re-molinaro-pay-to-play-preet-bharara.html .
[recall 7/29/11 post to my blog on all this-- more proof:
http://dutchessdemocracy.blogspot.com/2011/07/molinaro-awash-in-pay-to-play.html ]
It boggles the mind to even consider how anyone could think that all the pay-to-play conflicts of interest documented below from public records at County Comptroller Jim Coughlan's office and the NYS Board of Elections are mere 'coincidence."
[don't believe us-- see for yourself-- type in "Molinaro"; then "Dutchess County Republican Committee" to confirm facts below:
http://www.elections.ny.gov/recipientstext.html ;
http://www.elections.ny.gov:8080/plsql_browser/getfiler2_loaddates ]
Crucial here-- Molinaro and Steinhaus for decades now have run for election and re-election with distinct unfair advantage as GOP County Executive vs. Dem candidates like Diane Jablonski, Dan French, Joe Ruggiero, Fred Bunnell, Irv Miller, Kathleen Durham, et. al.-- as Molinaro and Steinhaus have been able to benefit from tens of thousands of dollars in pay-to-play campaign contributions from companies getting fat county contracts-- even if we to believe that most/all of the county contracts here below were, in fact, put out to bid-- the truth remains that Molinaro/Steinhaus have unfairly benefitted from pay-to-play donations.
Fact: Though for many years now GOP in control of the Dutchess County Legislature have refused to even allow on to the agenda for a committee meeting Joel's proposed law (supported by Co. Leg. Dem caucus) for county-level campaign finance reform to end pay-to-play, the truth is that a Republican-controlled County Legislature in Orange County here in the Hudson Valley three years ago passed legislation there to ban pay-to-play conflicts of interest re: county contracts/contributions-- and back in 1997 Rockland County passed similar legislation; even the Town of Greenburgh in Westchester County did so nine years ago as well; just last year an anti-corruption panel in Nassau County recommended passage there of a Greenburgh-type law to ban pay-to-play there; see:
https://www.ecode360.com/9665748 ;
http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2013/October/04/OC_PayToPlay-04Oct13.htm ;
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/05/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/05topicwe.html?_r=0 ;
http://www.greenburghny.com/Cit-e-Access/news/archnews.cfm?NID=38859&TID=10&jump2=0 ;
http://www.recordonline.com/article/20150729/NEWS/150729341 ;
http://www.orangecountygov.com/filestorage/124/1348/11540/Pay_to_Play_Forms_PORTAL_FINAL.pdf .
Email all 25 Dutchess County Legislators at countylegislators@dutchessny.gov now on this-- pass it on!
Info: joel...@earthlink.net 845-464-2245
http://www.DutchessDemocracy.blogspot.com/
http://www.WHVW.com/ 950 AM Sat.'s 8-11 am
Seriously folks-- why would these seven entities below from far outside Dutchess be bestowing such largesse on our county's top official-- other than their receiving almost $1.5 million of our county tax dollars in government contracts?
1. Fact: Ken Ricci of 8 Iden Avenue, Larchmont (Westchester), Pres. of Ricci-Greene (under contract to design new jail), gave Molinaro $2000 last year (June 3rd and Oct. 20th); recall-- Ricci-Greene Dutchess County contract for $1.2 million to design new, unneeded $274 million jail boondoggle project.
http://www.riccigreene.com/index.php/people_details.php?id=1&pos=Principal
2. Fact: Orrick, Herrington, & Sutcliffe LLP/San Francisco, exposed recently during a County Legislature meeting as "bond counsel" (re: refinancing county debt), got a $35,000 county contract in 2014, and gave $2600 in legalized kickbacks to Molinaro 2011-2013-- and $1700 since then as well.
3. Fact: C & S Engineers/Syracuse have received $56,000 in county contracts so far this year, $235,000 county contract in 2014 and $361,000 county contract in 2013-- they gave $3300 in legalized kickbacks to Molinaro 2011 through 2014; they also gave Molinaro $800 last July 24th and $550 last Oct. 19th.
4. Fact: Compass Company Consultants LLC/Compass Group USA Inc./NYC: $499,000 county contract in 2014; $477,000 county contract in 2013 ($188,000 in county contracts so far this year); $8500 in legalized kickbacks to Molinaro 11/9/12 (one day).
5. Fact: Clough Harbour & Associates/Albany: $53,000 county contract in 2014; $27,000 county contract in 2013; $1000 in legalized kickbacks to Molinaro 2011-2013.
6. Fact: Creighton Manning Engineering LLP/Albany: $68,000 county contract in 2014; $1200 in legalized kickbacks to Molinaro in 2014.
7. Fact: O'Connor Davies Munns & Dobbins LLP/New Windsor: $32,000 in country contracts in 2014 and 2013; $300 in legalized kickbacks to Molinaro 10/2/13.
But that's not all folks...(far from it, in fact-- what's above is but the tip of the iceberg)...
8. Fact: including those companies above from outside the county making such large contributions to Molinaro (and "just happening" to receive fat county contracts), literally 22 different firms receiving $4.3 million in county contracts gave Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro $76,000 in campaign contributions over the previous four years, according to public records at the Dutchess County Comptroller's office and NYS Board of Elections- this is a clear conflict of interest, plain and simple. Peckham Industries/Materials and these fifteen other firms from here inside Dutchess received literally $2.9 million of our tax dollars in county contracts in 2014 and 2013, giving Molinaro over $60,000 in legalized kickbacks 2011-2015-- Blacktop Maintenance Corporation, Bottini Fuel,Chazen Engineering/Environmental, Anthony Erdman & Associates, H.G. Page/HGP Realty, Hudson River Truck Equipment, Iseman, Cunningham, Riester, and Hyde LLP, Jean W. Patrick Legal Life Tent, Kelly & Meenagh LLP, Key Interiors, LLC/Key Construction Services, Marshall & Sterling, Inc, Morris Associates, N & S, Quality Environmental Solutions and Technologies (QUEST), Red Wing Properties (many of these the same names as since the 90's with Steinhaus, natch-- meet new boss; same as old boss-- A. Colarusso and Sons of Hudson also long involved in such Molinaro pay-to-play too).
9. Want to know why Dutchess GOP allow real estate developers from NYC and all over to destroy our county's natural beauty?
Fact: Silo Ridge Ventures of Scottsdale/AZ gave Molinaro $5700 last Jan. 11th, May 29th, and July 3rd and $500 to the Dutchess County Republican Committee12/18/14; Dover Knolls Development Co. LLC of Garden City, NY gave Molinaro $1000 last July 24th and $1000 to the Dutchess County Republican Committee12/18/14; Durst Organization of NYC gave Molinaro $2500 last Nov. 9th, and Dagar Group of Fishkill gave Molinaro $1000 last May 29th-- the first three entities have been involved extensively in raping the natural landscape of eastern Dutchess County; the Dagar Group is a pro-Wal-Mart firm locally.
10. Want to know why Dutchess GOP love mining so much locally-- with $102,000 county contract for Red Wing Properties last year?
Fact: Paul Doherty and Red Wing Properties gave Molinaro $850 last July 24th.
11. Want to know why Dutchess GOP allow Peckham Industries to do dangerously shoddy work on county roads (like Co. Rt. 19)?
Fact: Peckham Industries gave Molinaro $3000 last year-- Jan. 11th, May 29th, and Sept. 28th-- and received $1.9 million in county contracts in 2014 and $153,000 in county contracts so far this year-- note: Peckham Industries also gave the Dutchess County Republican Committee $750 last Sept. 23rd as well; their work on Co. Rt. 19 in northern Dutchess so bad-- caused accidents.
12. Want to know why Dutchess GOP seem to love Key Construction Services so much-- with $1.7 million county contract last year?
Fact: Key Construction Services gave Molinaro $4850 last year-- May 29th, July 8th, and Sept. 28th.
13. Want to know why Dutchess GOP aren't serious about recycling and do whatever local waste-hauling industry tells them to do?
Fact: Royal Carting founder Emil Panichi gave $2500 to Molinaro last May 29th-- Royal Carting enjoys a near-monopoly locally-- and a sweetheart deal with the Dutchess County Resource Recovery Agency re: tipping fee at Wheelabrator Dutchess County Incinerator in Poughkeepsie.
14. Want to know why Dutchess GOP continue to give Herb Redl (arrested for bribery in 1999) an annual $89,000 county contract?
Fact: Herb Redl gave Molinaro $2500 last Mar. 6th and $1000 to the Dutchess County Republican Committee as well last Sept. 8th:
http://www.justiceteam2003.us/dcexposed/kortright/kortright_jailed.html .
15. Want to know why Dutchess GOP killed Joel's (endorsed by Co. Leg. Dems) resolution for public hearing re: lack of broadband?
Fact: Cablevision Systems of Bethpage gave $5000 to the Dutchess County Republican Committee last Oct. 29th and $1500 to them 12/30/14; they also gave Molinaro himself $1500 last Jan. 11th; Verizon and other telecom corp.'s donated over $11 million across NYS 2005-2013-- Republican County Legislature majority wouldn't even allow my broadband resolution to be on committee mtg. agenda.
http://www.commoncause.org/states/new-york/issues/money-in-politics/moreland-commission/CCNY-Big-Telecom-Moreland-Monday-PDF-Version.pdf
16. Want to know why Dutchess GOP (not just Sheriff Butch) love Donald Trump so much?
Fact: Donald Trump's brother Robert gave Molinaro $500 last Oct. 28th-- and $1000 last Oct. 26th to Dutchess County GOP Committee:
http://www.curbed.com/2012/6/22/10361690/the-ohsovery-untrump-mansion-of-socialite-blaine-trump .
17. Want to know why Dutchess GOP don't want to challenge DA Bill Grady on his looking the other way re: C.O. killing of Samuel Harrell by Fishkill Correctional Facility Beat Up Squad in spite of years of warnings about this from the Correctional Association of NY, don't want to challenge Grady re: wrongful (and costly) incarceration of Dewey Bozella for 26 years, and don't want to challenge Grady on statements he publicly made during a Dutchess County Legislature meeting earlier this year about the supposed "need" to continue to keep locked up literally dozens of nonviolent heroin addicts in our county jail?
Fact: Dutchess County DA Bill Grady himself gave the Dutchess County Republican Committee $1000 in hush money to shut them up about all this last Oct. 26th: http://www.BeaconPrisonAction.org/ ; http://www.NobodyLeavesMidHudson.org/ .
18. Want to know why, when push comes to shove, Dutchess GOP refuse to seriously stand up to Central Hudson's disgusting proposal to force us here in Hudson Valley to pay $1.5 billion extra for unneeded AC transmission line "upgrade"-- and refuse to stand up to Central Hudson's rate hikes, Fortis deal, and 90 percent of our energy dollars flowing out of our local economy?
[fact: Central Hudson donates literally 29 times more in campaign contributions to GOP than Dems-- see FollowtheMoney.org:
http://www.followthemoney.org/entity-details?eid=40588909
http://www.dailyfreeman.com/article/DF/20130421/NEWS/304219966
19. Want to know why Dutchess GOP (except for Co. Leg. Marge Horton) refuse to pass the exact same legislation to ban toxic toys that Republican Westchester County Exec Rob Astorino signed into law-- and as Rockland and Suffolk counties passed-- Albany too?
Fact: NYPIRG has linked lack of action to ban toxic toys to campaign contributions from the chemical industry: "The American Chemistry Council spent about $350,000 to fight against a variety of bills, but has paid particular attention to the Child Safe Products Act." The American Chemistry Council also spent over $750,000 from 2007 to 2013 on campaign contributions and lobbying here in NYS.
http://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2015/03/new-support-for-bill-to-ban-chemicals-in-childrens-toys-020133
http://www.eany.org/article/campaign-finance-laws-are-seen-main-obstacle-passing-our-super-bills
http://www.commoncause.org/states/new-york/research-and-reports/deep-drilling.PDF
20. Want to know why Dutchess GOP refuse to pass same bipartisan pesticide notification law GOP/Dems in Ulster Co. voted for?
Joel knows from trying to pass this law numerous times since 2004 that NYS Lawn Care Association makes ridiculous claims re: this-- even tho 75% of NYS residents live in counties that have passed this law-- not just Ulster County-- but also Rockland, Erie, Suffolk, Nassau, Tompkins, Albany, Westchester, Monroe counties and NYC.
http://www.lawnandlandscape.com/article/n-y--lawn-and-tree-care-industry-impacted-by-pesticide-notification-law/
21. Want to know why Dutchess GOP don't want to cut property taxes by finding money for schools/services by taxing the rich more?
Fact: over 70 percent of the money donated to politicians comes in contributions of $200 or more-- from less than one-half of one percent of the public (notably, Bernie's and Zeph's campaign's are the exceptions to the rule)-- protecting small businesses from large chains, making a living wage reality, ending poverty and corporate welfare are not on agenda for Dutchess GOP, natch.
http://fiscalpolicy.org/the-path-not-taken-how-new-york-state-increased-the-tax-burden-on-the-middle-class-and-cut-taxes-for-its-highest-income-taxpayers-by-over-8-billion-a-year
https://www.opensecrets.org/resources/dollarocracy/04.php
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[recall Joel's 7/29/11 post to his blog on all this-- more proof:
http://dutchessdemocracy.blogspot.com/2011/07/molinaro-awash-in-pay-to-play.html ]
The fact is that Molinaro's July 2011 campaign filing with the NYS Board of Elections really does read like a who's who list of the same companies who have been repeatedly getting large county contracts (worth literally millions of our county tax dollars in legalized kickbacks) for the last two decades under Steinhaus' wasteful reign of error-- while "coincidentally" repeatedly giving the County Executive thousands upon thousands of dollars in donations-- awash in veritable orgy (or is it cesspool)...
Three for starters...(can you say "maintaining status quo-- incineration über alles"?...knew you could):
1. On Apr. 4th Royal Carting owner Emil Panichi gave Molinaro $2500.
2. On Apr. 11th Royal Carting attorney James Constantino gave Molinaro $1000.
3. On May 15th DC Resource Recovery Agency Board President Ed Mills gave Molinaro $100.
[recall these two gems from the Poughkeepsie Journal's Mary Beth Pfeiffer on why we need to be concerned about Royal Carting once again buying so much influence in our county government-- from Oct. 18th and Oct. 19th-- "Trash-Pickup Competition Is Rare in Dutchess County: Royal Carting Dominates: Other Companies Cry Foul"-- and "No License? No Problem for Trash Haulers"; see:
http://dutchessdemocracy.blogspot.com/2009/10/clean-up-dutchess-limit-donations-from.html ]
A bit more here re: Molinaro engaging in pay-to-play (and not even in office yet; we need to stop him!)...
[see below; most of these entities here have been involved in pay-to-play in our county gov. since 90's!]
Apr. 11th: Meyer Contracting gave Molinaro $1000; Meyer got $2.1 million in county contracts last year.
Apr. 5th: Herb Redl gave Molinaro a $2500 donation; Redl got $250,000 in county contracts last year.
Mar. 21st: Jean W. Patrick gave Molinaro a $1000 donation (Patrick is long-time county vendor).
Apr. 4th: C.B. Strain and Sons gave Molinaro a $1000 donation (Strain helped build last jail expansion).
Apr. 11th: Vandewater & Vandewater gave Molinaro a $2000 donation (Vandewater: long-time vendor).
Apr. 5th: Corbally, Gartland & Rapplyea LLP gave Molinaro a $1000 donation (firm is long-time vendor).
July 11th: Liscum McCormack VanVoorhis Architects gave Molinaro a $1000 donation (ditto above).
[again-- see below all seven entities listed just above have been involved in pay-to-play since the 90's!]
But let's also not forget about these four other campaign contributions of questionable origin either...
Apr. 11th: Montfort Brothers (bent on destroying Fishkill's aquifer) gave Molinaro a $1000 donation.
June 14th: Dover Knolls Development Corporation gave Molinaro a $1600 donation.
Mar. 21st: HGP Realty Corp. gave Molinaro a $5000 donation.
May 14th: Lucy Waletzky of Pleasantville gave Molinaro a $8300 donation.
Of course, pay-to-play corruption is not limited to us in Dutchess courtesy of Molinaro and Steinhaus...
Recall-- former gubernatorial candidate and Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy was just forced out of office because of a pay-to-play scandal; for that reason Suffolk County Legislators Jay Schneiderman and Jon Cooper just re-introduced legislation they originally introduced five years ago to ban pay-to-play in their county government there...(how much longer should we have to wait here?)...see:
http://riverheadlocal.com/local-news/2048-in-the-wake-of-levy-scandal-a-chorus-of-calls-for-county-campaign-finance-reform
Check out Citizen Action's report on pay-to-play in Nassau County government here:
http://citizenactionny.org/2006/07/pay-to-play-in-nassau-county/394
In 2005 New Jersey banned pay-to-play; see:
http://www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/governor/njnewsline/view_article.pl?id=2427 .
[effort for this started back in '98 when I gathered former County Exec Lucille Pattison, Roger Higgins, Fran Knapp, Kristen Jemiolo, Dick Murphy, (four county legislators then)-- along with late great Duane Smith and 40 other folks representing the best and brightest activists from all over our county (good chance John Ballo was there too)...and Duane Smith picked up the ball and helped convince our Co. Leg.'s Dem caucus to really push for this and make it a core part of Dutchess Dem party platform (let's not let all that work & history for over a decade now go down drain; come on folks!!!)
Pass it on...
Joel
876-2488
joel...@earthlink.net
p.s. Again-- your letters to editor to all these eleven publications below can make difference on this(!):
Poughkeepsie Journal-- letterstoeditor@poughkeepsiejournal.com
Daily Freeman-- let...@freemanonline.com
Southern Dutchess News-- news...@aol.com
Northern Dutchess News-- northerndutchess@sdutchessnews.com
The Hudson Valley News-- editorial@thehudsonvalleynews.com
Times Herald-Record-- let...@th-record.com
The Register Star [northern Dutchess newspaper]-- [web form] http://www.registerstar.com/forms/letters/
New York Times-- let...@nytimes.com
Daily News-- voi...@edit.nydailynews.com
Albany Times-Union-- [web form] http://web.timesunion.com/forms/emaileditor.asp
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[recall below sent out on all this originally to this list back on July 1st...(nothin's changed, folks)]
New info from Comptroller Coughlan reveals pay-to-play still locally; press conf. today!....
Dutchess County Comptroller Jim Coughlan just shared the following 11 new pieces of info with us:
[more reason to come to our press conf. today 12:30 pm in front of COB-- 22 Market St. Poughkeepsie!]
[have filed FOIA requests yearly since '97 to get info like this; below info is gleaned from Coughlan info]
1. Long-time GOP donor A. Colarusso & Son (of Hudson) got $4.5 million in county contracts last year.
2. Long-time GOP donor Meyer Contracting received $2.1 million in county contracts last year.
3. Long-time GOP donor Marshall & Sterling received $1.3 million in county contracts last year.
4. Long-time GOP donor Dutchess Quarry received $850,000 in county contracts last year.
5. Long-time GOP donor C & S Engineers/World Wide Holdings got $630,000 in co. contracts in 2010.
6. Long-time GOP donor NYCOMCO received $425,000 in county contracts last year.
7. Long-time GOP donor Herb Redl (implicated in scandal) got $250,000 in county contracts last year.
8. Long-time GOP donor Bottini Fuel/Morgan Fuel received $225,000 in county contracts last year.
9. Long-time GOP donor Chazen Environmental Services got $150,000 in county contracts last year.
10. Long-time GOP donor Vosburgh J. Paul Architect PC got $110,000 in county contracts last year.
11. Long-time GOP donor Charles H. Sells Inc. received $47,000 in county contracts last year.
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County campaign-giving limit proposed
Law would affect people, companies that do business with Dutchess
BY JENNY LEE-ADRIAN * POUGHKEEPSIE JOURNAL * AUGUST 6, 2009
A proposed Dutchess County law would limit political contributions of individuals and corporations that do business with the county, if they donate to candidates running for county offices.
Individuals and corporations that have contracts with the county could only contribute up to $100 to candidates running for county executive, county clerk, county district attorney, county sheriff, county comptroller and the county Legislature during any primary, special or general election campaign, according to legislator and law co-sponsor Joel Tyner, D-Clinton.
"It prevents undue influence on elected officials based on campaign contributions," said legislator and law co-sponsor Tom Mansfield, D-Red Hook.
The law would be enforced through a civil procedure by the County Attorney's Office. For the first offense, violation of the law could lead to a $250 fine or three times the contribution, whichever is greater. Any subsequent violation could lead to a $500 fine or four times the illegal contribution, whichever is greater.
A legislative committee will discuss the law at 4:45 p.m. today [in our County Legislature's chambers on the sixth floor of our County Office Building], but not vote on it.
State Board of Elections Communications Director John Conklin did not see a constitutional issue here.
"They can limit contributions to candidates in their own county for their own level of government," Conklin said. A county law that would limit contributions to candidates other than those at the county level would be challenged and struck down as unconstitutional, he said.
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NEW UPDATED report below re: de-facto pay-to-play right here in Dutchess County government here!...
[again-- thanx to Co. Leg. Tom Mansfield for co-sponsoring law I drafted and some of research below;
donations info < http://www.elections.state.ny.us/ContributionSearchB.html ; other info < Comptroller]
Do you think it's pure coincidence these county vendors from outside Dutchess are giving big money?...
-- A. Colarusso & Son of Hudson got $2.6 million of our tax dollars in county contracts since Jan. 2008-- and gave $7500 to County Exec since 5/15/06; county G.O.P. committee got $750 donation 12/13/06.
A. Colarusso & Son, Inc. also gave our County Executive $1000 on 12/14/02 and $2500 on 11/4/03, and got more than $700,000 in county contracts in 2003, and $346,000 in county contracts in 2004.
-- Charles H. Sells Inc. of Briarcliff Manor got $181,000 of our tax dollars in county contracts since Jan. '08-- and gave $2000 to the County Executive since Feb. 3, 2006. Charles H. Sells, Inc. gave $3000 to our County Executive in 1999/2000 and $1000 4/30/03, and got $140,000 in county contracts in 1999.
-- C & S Engineers/World Wide Holdings of Syracuse got $366,000 of our tax dollars in county contracts since Jan. '08-- and gave $1000 to the County Executive since May 12, 2006.
-- Cosentino Architecture, PLLC of Newburgh/New Windsor got $116,000 of our tax dollars in county contracts since Jan. '08-- and gave $200 to the County Executive since May 18, 2007.
-- Peckham Industries of White Plains got $181,000 of our tax dollars in county contracts since Jan. 2008 and gave $2000 to our County Executive in 1996 and 1997-- getting $224,000 in county contracts in 1997, 1998, and 2000, and $214,000 in county contracts in 2004. They also gave $1500 in 1999, $1500 in 2001, and $1100 in 2003 to the Dutchess County Republican Committee, and $550 to the G.O.P. Legislative Fund [long-time top G.O.P. Co. Leg. Gary Cooper has long worked for Peckham too].
And we're supposed to believe these millions in legalized kickbacks annually are coincidence too?...
-- Meyer Contracting got $1.6 million of our tax dollars in county contracts since Jan. 2008-- and has given over $10,000 to the County Exec since Feb. 12 2006 (and publicly fought for his political agenda).
Meyer Contracting also gave our County Executive $1350 in 2000 and $2500 in 2003, and got $3.5 million in county contracts in 1998, 1999, and 2000-- and $1.1 million in county contracts in 2004.
-- Marshall & Sterling got $1.6 million of our tax dollars in county contracts since Jan. 2008-- and gave
$750 to the Dutchess County G.O.P. Committee on Dec. 13, 2006. Marshall & Sterling also gave the Dutchess County Republican Committee $3000 in 1999, $800 in 2001, and $500 in 2003, and got $2.6 million in county contracts in 1998, 1999, and 2000-- and $1.5 million in county contracts in 2004.
-- Vosburgh J. Paul Architect PC got $483,000 of our tax dollars in county contracts since Jan. 2008-- and gave $2500 to the County Executive 10/14/06-- and $1000 to the County Executive 11/4/07. Paul Vosburgh gave our County Executive $4000 in 1995 and 1999, $2500 on 6/17/03, and got $497,000 in county contracts in 2000, and $56,000 in county contracts in 2004.
-- Bottini Fuel/Morgan Fuel & Heating Co. DBA got $440,000 of our tax dollars in county contracts since Jan. '08-- and gave $2000 to County Exec since 7/21/07; $1000 6/10/08 to Dutchess G.O.P. Comm.
Bottini Fuel gave our County Executive $2000 in 1998 and 1999, and got $241,000 in county contracts in 1997, 1998, and 2000.
-- H.B. Wiltse Excavating got $754,000 of our tax dollars in county contracts since Jan. '08-- and gave $1000 to the County Executive May 10, 2006.
-- NYCOMCO got $550,000 of our tax dollars in county contracts since Jan. '08-- and gave $1000 to the County Executive June 5, 2007. NYCOMCO also gave $2500 to our County Executive on 4/18/03, and got $382,000 in county contracts in 2004.
-- Dutchess Quarry & Supply Inc. got $1.1 million of our tax dollars in county contracts since Jan. 2008-- $100 to BS Apr. 6, 2007. Dutchess Quarry also gave our County Executive $200 in 1995,$2500 on 12/20/04, and got $458,000 in county contracts in 2000, and $647,000 in contracts in 2004.
-- Herb Redl got $230,000 of our tax dollars in county contracts since Jan. 2008 and gave our County Executive $3000 in 1995 and 1997-- also getting $277,000 in county contracts in 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000, and got $11,000 in contracts in 2004.
-- Chazen Environmental Services got $45,701.69 of our tax dollars in county contracts since Jan. '08--
and gave $3000 to the County Executive since Feb. 26, 2006. Chazen Engineering gave our County Executive $2500 on 5/7/03 and $2500 on 12/19/04, and got $3200 in county contracts in 2004 alone.
-- Smith Environmental Laboratory, Inc. got $156,000 of our county tax dollars in contracts since Jan. '08-- and gave $800 to the County Executive since Aug. 16, 2006.
And that's not all folks...(again-- all of this from public records @ NYSBOE/DCBOE/Comptroller's office)...
Reclamation, Inc. (of Kingston) gave our County Executive $1000 in 1997 and got $1.3 million in county contracts in 1998, 1999, and 2000, and $157,000 in county contracts in 2004.
Highway Rehab Corporation (of Patterson) gave our County Executive $3000 in 1995,1999, and 2002, $1000 on 6/14/03, and got $429,000 in county contracts in 1996, and $218,000 in contracts in 2004.
York Hunter (of Kingston/NYC) gave $4000 to our County Executive in 1998 and
1999, and received over $2 million in county contracts in 1997, 1999, and 2000 (largely for work on Dutchess Community College classrooms and renovations on the county's fire training building).
Progressive Transportation Services, Inc. (of Horseheads) gave
our County Executive $1000 in 1999 (besides $1000 given previously), and got
$7.3 million in county contracts in 1998, 1999, and 2000.
Bank of New York (of New York City) gave our County Executive $1000 in 1995, and got $47,000 in contracts in 1996 and 1997.
Willkie, Farr, and Gallagher (of New York City) gave our County Executive $1000 on 12/20/04, and got $8960 in county contracts in 2004.
Bennett, Kielson, Storch, Yabhon, and DeSantis gave $1350 on 6/24/99 to the Dutchess County Republican Committee $920 on 10/25/99 and $300 to the G.O.P. Legislative Fund. They also gave the G.O.P. Legislative Fund $580 over the past three years ($190 on 10/23/02, $100 on 3/21/03, $100 on 9/15/03, $90 on 3/18/04, and $100 on 11/19/04); interestingly, each time no address was recorded on those finance disclosure statements- while all the addresses for other contributors were recorded. They got $55,000 in county contracts in 2000, and $74,000 in county contracts in 2004.
VanDeWater & VanDeWater gave $2500 on 5/24/99 and $1000 on 6/16/03 to our County Executive, $1000 on 10/12/00 and $500 on 8/14/99 to the Du. Co. Rep. Comm. They also gave $1025 to the Du. Co. Rep. Comm. in 2001, $1175 to them in 2002, $1100 in 2003, and $950 to them in 2004. They gave $515 to the G.O.P. Legislative Fund (on 9/9/03, 3/18/04, and 9/29/04 in total). They received $21,000 from the county in contracts in 1999 and 2000.
Hollowbrook Associates gave our County Executive $1000 in 1995, $2500 in 2002, and $1000 in 2003, and has gotten at least $55,000 a year in county contracts for many years, getting $63,000 in contracts in 2000 and a pledge from our County Executive for $55,000 a year for the following four years-- this is $15,000 more each year than what the Fishkill building would have cost the DMV; former County Clerk Dick Anderson wanted to make this move to save tax dollars and have after-hours drive-through service, but our County Executive and his Republican allies blocked it.
Montfort Brothers Quarry gave $1000 to our County Executive in 1995; they have been noticeably silent about their plans to destroy beautiful and historic Fishkill Ridge by turning it into a mine. They also gave $1750 in 2000 to the Dutchess County Republican Committee and $690 in 1999 and $550 in 2001 and $190 in 2003 to the G.O.P. Legislative Fund. Montfort Brothers also got $3571 in county contracts from the county in 1999 for highway and construction materials. Southern Dutchess Sand and Gravel gave the G.O.P. Legislative Fund $400 on 8/29/01.
Clove Excavators gave $2700 to our County Executive in 1995, 1997, and 1999, and got $2.6 million in county contracts in 1996, 1997, 1998, and 2000, and got $791,000 in county contracts in 2004.
Perreca Electric gave our County Executive $5000 in 1995, 1999, and 2002, $2500 on 4/23/03, $2500 on 12/13/04, and got $104,000 in county contracts in 1996 alone.
C.B. (Don/Richard) Strain gave $2000 to our County Executive in 1995 and 1999, $1000 in 2003, and received $4.2 million in county contracts in 1996, 1999, and 2000, largely for work on Dutchess Community College classrooms. They also got $331,000 in county contracts in 2004.
C.J./Jean W. Patrick Real Estate gave $3000 to our County Executive in 1995,
1997, and 1999, $1000 on 4/26/03, $1000 on 12/12/04, and got $287,000 in contracts in 1996, 1999, and 2000, and $164,000 in country contracts in 2004.
Star Gas gave $250 in 1999 to our County Executive and got $55,000 in contracts In 1999 and 2000, and $10,000 in contracts in 2004.
Morris Associates gave $2000 in 1999 and $2500 in 2004 to our County Executive. They received $6000 in contracts in 1999, and $15,000 in county contracts in 2004. They gave $500 to the Du. Co. Rep. Comm. in 1999, $900 to them in 2001, $1100 to them in 2003, and $155 in 2000, and $225 in 2004 to the G.O.P. Legislative Fund.
Freedom Ford gave our County Executive $1000 in 1995 and got $40,000 in county contracts in 1998, and $24,000 in county contracts in 2004.
Arthur Fried gave our County Executive $1000 in 1995 and got $132,000 in county contracts in 1998.
McCabe & Mack gave our County Executive $3500 in 1995 and 1999 and got $71,000 in county contracts in 1998 and 2000, and $92,000 in contracts in 2004.
James Sedore and/or his accounting firm gave our County Executive $6000 in 1995, 1997, and 1999, another $1000 on 6/12/03, and got $20,000 in county contracts in 1997 and 1998, and $10,000 in county contracts in 2004; they also gave the County Republican Committee $1350 in 1999, $400 in 2001, $950 in 2003, and $50 to the G.O.P. Legislative Fund in 2003.
Sucato Builders gave our County Executive $200 in 1999 and got $11,000 in county contracts in 2000.
Package Pavement gave our County Executive $500 in 1999 and got $7000 in county
contracts in 1998.
Cerniglia & Swartz gave our County Executive $500 in 1999 and $2500 in 2003 (and $3500 that election cycle, besides), and got $70,000 in county contracts in 2000, and $2800 in contracts in 2004.
Royal Carting gave $400 to the G.O.P. Legislative Fund in 2001, $100 in 2003, $1000 to the Dutchess County Republican Committee in 2000, and received $97,000 in county contracts in 1999, and $102,000 in county contracts in 2004.
H. G. Page gave $150 in 1999 to the G.O.P. Legislative Fund and got $22,000 in county contracts in 1999, and $7000 in county contracts in 2004.
Blacktop Maintenance Corporation gave the G.O.P. Legislative Fund $90 on 3/11/04 and got $366,000 in county contracts in 2004.
Liscum, McCormack, and VanVoorhis gave our County Executive $1000 on 6/18/03, $490 to the G.O.P. Legislative Fund in 2004, and got $16,000 in county contracts in 2004.
Prudential Serls gave our County Executive $2500 on 5/3/03 and $2500 on 12/20/04, and got more than $12,000 in county contracts in 2004.
Red Wing Properties gave $1000 to our County Executive on 6/19/03, and $45 to the G.O.P. Legislative Fund on 3/11/04, and got $27,000 in county contracts in 2004.
Corbally, Gartland, and Rappleyea LLP gave $50 to the G.O.P. Legislative Fund on 9/29/04; they got $4300 in county contracts in 2004.
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[scroll down for text of law proposed; Rockland law here: http://www.ecode360.com/?custId=RO1021 ]
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"Keep Improving Dutchess Ethics Law"
[Poughkeepsie Journal editorial 5/29/04-- over five years ago-- how much longer should we wait?!?]
"Accountability in Dutchess County government has taken a big stride forward recently-- though there's still room for improvement...more could be done to foster accountability. The Legislature could look to other counties, such as Rockland, for examples of strong laws. Dutchess could: * Limit campaign contributions to $100 if they come from individuals or organizations that do business with the county. This would minimize any appearance that they're buying political influence. * Put a $100 cap on ''soft money,'' or even eliminate it altogether. The term refers to gifts funneled through political parties or other means to get around direct contribution limits. Laws like these can help ensure that public servants remain honest in their official dealings. Dutchess County should continue to strive for integrity in government."
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"Ethics Law Must Cover Gift Limits"
[Poughkeepsie Journal editorial 9/16/00-- literally almost a decade ago-- how much longer do we wait?]
"Dutchess legislators recently took the high road and stepped up the ethics code for elected county officials, but there's more to be done on this road before they make an exit. In other words, they should approve important campaign finance reform proposals still pending to the revised county ethics law passed last week. These additions, proposed by Legislator Duane Smith, D-Beekman, would demonstrate across-the-board devotion to the highest ethical standards.
To start off, Smith urges a $100 limit on all gifts to all candidates for county office from any person or company that does business with Dutchess County. That would eliminate any question of politicians returning favors for big campaign donations. Smith's additions also would strengthen bans on nepotism, cronyism and lobbying when it comes to appointed, paying positions in county government. His amendments would make it impossible for county officials to have close relatives in high-paying jobs, if other applicants are equally or better qualified. Besides, the lawmaker urges closing loopholes so campaign contributors doing business with the county don't appear to be buying political influence.
Besides the ban on gifts worth more than $100, he advocates the elimination of ``soft money,'' gifts funneled through political parties or other means to get around direct contribution limits. Smith's proposals would provide just that. The Beekman lawmaker based his proposals on Rockland County's ethics law, which is superior to Dutchess' recently revised measure in several ways: It clearly defines conflicts of interest, simplifies the financial disclosure process and makes it enforceable, and ensures membership on the ethics board can't be controlled by a political majority. Anthony Quartararo, counsel to the Dutchess Legislature, and County Attorney Ian MacDonald say the county can't pass a campaign finance law because New York state law supersedes any county law.
Not so, according to Rockland County's own legislative counsel, Bruce Levine, a Democrat. He and his GOP predecessor both determined that the Rockland measure is completely within the county's power and isn't in conflict with state law. According to the state attorney general's office, Rockland's law has never been challenged.
If Rockland County has been able to pass and enforce these campaign finance reforms without legal problems, shouldn't Dutchess be able to do the same by using the same model? Dutchess lawmakers should investigate that question. They have already straightened out the mess that was the old ethics law, giving county residents clearer, stronger standards to use in judging elected officials. Making Legislator Smith's proposals part of that law would complete the job."
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Comments here from 58 local folks signed on to http://www.petitiononline.com/cleangov -- join us!...
58.
Carole Tang
This is another no-brainer. Until we have serious campaign finance reform at all levels of government, we can hardly call ourselves a democracy, can we?
PO Box 267, Poughquag 12570
57.
Diane Sommer
government by the people for the people
LaGrange NY 12540
56.
Judy Krumenacker
Truth!
212 Market Lane, Clinton Corner, NY 12514
55.
Cary Kittner
govenment has to have transparency and fairness especially when it is time to decide who we want to govern.
12507
54.
mike purcell
contributors and contract awards should be looked at
19 san souci drive pawling ny 12564
53.
Jose Reissig
essential
141 Lamoree Rd, Rhinebeck, NY 12572
52.
Alicia Civiok
I think we need to restore some integrity to our government procedures.
12601
51.
Kristin Lawlor
A step in the right direction.
9 Carnelli Court, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603
50.
Chris Hackenbrock
Stop the corruption NOW!
12572
49.
stewart Kahn
pay to play must end. corrupts the process.
2434 rt. 9 g staatsburg, ny 12580
48.
Virginia Stern
Campaign finance reform guuidelines are the only way to curb the influence of money in government.
12514
47.
richard mchugh
go joel go!like davy crockett said,"if you are right,go ahead."
154 chelsea rd.,wappingers falls;ny12590
46.
Baccus Poxer
Democracy requires a level playing field, not one dominated by wealthy special interest groups
12545
45.
Dana Tompkins
There is and has always been only one way to combat this type of abuse, and that is to find a way to bring this to the attention of the voters, so they can take care of it in the next election cycle. Find what would be newsworthy to the national media, and put Dutchess County on the map for all to see.
73 College Lane Millbrook , NY 12545
44.
Joan Grishman
We are living in the results of bought govt..
Hyde Park, NY. 12538
43.
Edward Shaughnessy
I support the Clean Government Petition
P.O. Box 21, Millbrook, New York, 12545.
42.
Mark
I agree with petition
206 Spackenkill Road Poughkeepsie, NY 12603
41.
ilana nilsen
Do something that would make children proud
329 Camby Road, Verbank 12585
40.
julia widdowson
let's clean up our county now!
339 North Mabbettsville Road, Millbrook, NY 12545
39.
Cheryl K. Morse
We need to clean up county AND local government
P.O. Box 645, Amenia, NY 12501
38.
Vincent Martinez
-
12522
37.
Jessica
Will this ever be rectified
118 sodom rd staatsburg
36.
Natalie Embree
Let's clean it up!
8 Vista Drive, Poughkeepsie, 12601
35.
Joseph Rouleau
Voters demand clean elections and instant runoff voting.
200 Oakwood Ave, Troy, NY 12180
34.
Sean J. McDermott
I am a former Rockland County resident (now living in Dutchess) and Clean Government Works
12570
33.
Marian G Thompson
The practice of awarding contracts to corporations based on their campaign contributions to incumbents invites corruption, should be illegal and costs taxpayers more money if bids submitted are irrelevant in choosing the winners of contracts. The practice can also affect the quality of work completed.
1413 Hollow Rd, Clinton Corners, NY 12514
32.
Joni Handley
It's time to put democracy ahead of moneyed interests. Let's clean up our elections so we can clean up all levels of our government.
47 Partridge Hill Rd., Hyde Park, NY 12538
31.
Joseph Cosentino
Let's end the corrupt dictatorship and get back to a democratic society.
12590
30.
Doreen Tignanelli
A limit seems reasonable.
12603
29.
Richard Anderson
Run on your qualifications, not on how much influence you can peddle.
18 West Marshall Dr, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
28.
Thomas Baldino
We don't want monied interests out side our government influencing governmental decisions.
19 North St., Beacon, NY 12508
27.
Richard Anderson
It's Time to Clean Up County Government
18 West Marshall Dr, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
26.
David Sloman
I support this petition!!
12603
25.
Ted Ferris
Do the right thing
12585
24.
Chelsea Warburton
Government by the People and for the People
98 Lattintown Road, Newburgh, NY 12550
23.
Charles Warburton
Government by the People and for the People
98 Lattintown Road, Newburgh, NY 12550
22.
Jennifer Warburton
Power to the People!
98 Lattintown Road, Newburgh, NY 12550
21.
Anne Gayler
Please do the right thing.
148 Prospect Road, Monroe, NY 10950
20.
Jonnie Leinweber
Changes in current policy regarding political contributions is desparately needed! I agree wholeheartedly. But mostly, everyone needs to voice their opinions about this, it is our consitiutional right!!! Did I hear that England gives free airtime to all political candidates? This seems to suggest to me that ALL candidates have a fair chance of being heard, not just those with the most money.
12550
19.
Patrick Speno
I am in favor of the DCCGP
10 Ladue Rd Hopewell NY 12533
18.
Ken Thomas
Government BY the people ! This means all people not just the greedy wealthy!
12550
17.
Michael Cashdollar
reform Dutchess county govenment!
Saugerties, NY
16.
Frank Carbone Jr.
If it's happening in Dutchess co. -- it's happening elsewhere. Contributions should be strictly limited to individual voters. Businesses/owners should be completely restricted.
Newburgh, NY 12550
15.
Mark Wetzel
Family court & county wide corruption reform needed now! I love you, Gregory & Ashlan!
Pitman, NJ
14.
Adrienne Bradford
Reform family court now! I lost my children in Dutchess County Court because the system is totally whacked out.
Saugerties NY
13.
Victoria Fleming
With the corruption in the government, we have criminals & con artists from other states moving here. It makes me fearful for my children's future.
Poughkeepsie 12601
12.
Catherine Watters
County funds are not meant to be private slush funds for campaign contributors from outside the county. Let's get honest and keep the sunshine on this issue!
Rhinebeck 12572-1325
11.
William A. Sepe
An idea whose time has come
65 Gifford Avenue Apt #1, Poughkeepsie 12601
10.
Margaret Von Vogt
enough already
12603
9.
Richard R Carlson
Elected officals should not be rented out.
12590
8.
Dr. Duane W. Smith
It's an outrage that Dutchess County government is for sale.
12601
7.
bill costine
quid pro quo, government for sale in dutchess!! and cheap too!!!
108 rombout ave, beacon NY, 12508
6.
Douglas C. Smyth
Dutchess County needs a Rockland County-style ethics and campaign finance law. Incumbents should not have their campaigns subsidized by the contractors they approve for work in the county.
12580
5.
Douglas McComb
Government of the corporations, by the corporations, for the corporations, equals extortion.
37 Hornbeck Ridge, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603
4.
Guy Hathaway
Public financing of all candidates for election is an idea whose time came long ago. For truly "representative government", it is the taxpaying voters who should be represented, not special interests.
12572
3.
Vicky Perry
Contributions to political campaigns are a legitimate form of citizen participation, but the financial strength of contributors should not permit them to be a controlling influence on elections.
62 Old Post Rd. , Red Hook NY 12571
2.
Richard M. Anderson
Good government depends on not accepting political contributions from those who do business with the county.
18 West Marshall Drive, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
1.
Richard Dennison
The American Republic cannot continue to exist without clean elections.
12533
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Ricardo McKay, the Rockland County Legislature Attorney, sent this to us:
"I have checked with our County Attorney and there have been no lawsuits against Rockland County challenging the legality of the Rockland Campaign Finance Law.
Secondly, the City of New York has passed a Campaign Finance Law. That law has a detailed analysis of the power of a County to adopt it's own finance law. Please review that law for the authority you have asked about.
Next I would note that the opinion of the Controller's and the Attorney General's offices are not law. They are their opinions only.
Lastly I would point out that Rockland's law is addressed to the issue if whether a party can be a contractor with the County. It has now restriction as to ones ability to support financially any candidate of their choosing. If one wants to contract with the County, the County has the desire to avoid conflict of interest and the appearance of inappropriate conduct. The desire of the State to set contribution limits is not so great that it can prevent the County from controlling who can contract with it."
McKay cites five different lawsuits over the years that support the right of New York City, Rockland County, Suffolk County-- and yes, Dutchess County-- to pass local campaign finance laws...
Specifically, these: Resnick v. County of Ulster, La Cagnina v. City of Schenectady, Baldwin v. City of Buffalo, Adler v. Deegan, and Procaccino v. Board of Elections (see below)...
They're in this piece McKay sent us-- "A Symposium on Ethics in Government: The New York City Campaign Finance Act" by Jeffrey Friedlander, Stephen Louis, and Laurence Laufer (from the Winter 1988 issue of The Hofstra Law Review)...
"Section III. Local Legislative Authority and the Interaction with State Law
The New York City Corporation Counsel...concluded that the City has the authority to adopt a system of public campaign financing. Article IX of the New York State Constitution establishes in state law the principle of local home rule. That article sets forth several bases of local legislative authority which support enactment of the New York City Campaign Finance Act. Specifically, article IX provides, "In addition to powers granted in the statute of local governments or in any other law,...every local government shall have the power to adopt and amend local laws not inconsistent with the provisions of this constitution or any general law relating to its property, affairs, or government..." Not only is this broad authority granted to localities by the people and the legislature, but the Constitution also provides in article IX that the "rights, powers, privileges and immunities granted to local governments by this article shall be liberally construed."
The New York City Campaign Finance Act falls within the scope of the city's "property, affairs, or government." This is clear from the purposes of the law: (a) to help ensure the ethical conduct of city officials by reducing the political influence of large contributors; (b) to give candidates a fair chance to express their views to the electorate; (c) to keep voters informed of local campaign issues; and (d) to increase public confidence in the electoral process.
The courts of the state have held that a local law may relate to the "property, affairs or government" of the locality, notwithstanding the fact that it pertains to the electoral process.
* In Resnick v. County of Ulster, the New York Court of Appeals, relying in part on the "property, affairs or government" provision, rejected a challenge to a county law requiring that vacancies in the board of supervisors be filled by vote of that body's remaining members.
* In La Cagnina v. City of Schenectady, the Supreme Court, Special Term, for Schenectady County upheld a local law prescribing how a proposal being voted on in a referendum was to be stated on the ballot.
* Baldwin v. City of Buffalo is especially significant. There the Court of Appeals upheld against constitutional challenge a local law altering the boundaries of local election districts within the city of Buffalo. The court held that "the State has no paramount interest" in a change in the law pertaining to local elections and the locality may therefore change ward boundaries pursuant to its authority over its "property, affairs or government." This reasoning applies to the public financing of local campaigns as surely as to the alteration of ward boundaries.
The fact that the state legislature has regulated some aspects of the financing of local elections does not necessarily imply that city authority to act in this area is preempted. In interpreting the home rule provisions of the state constitution, the Court of Appeals has long recognized that many matters of public concern may affect state interests while also relating to the "property, affairs or government" of a locality. In such areas of overlapping interests, state and local laws may coexist.
* In Adler v. Deegan, for example, Chief Judge Cardozo noted that the enactment of the Multiple Dwelling Law, a special state law establishing minimum structural standards for apartment houses in New York City, did not exclude construction activities from the City's "property, affairs or government." The state's interest in safeguarding public health, embodied in the Multiple Dwelling Law, did not, in Judge Cardozo's view, diminish the city's interest in regulating the density and structure of buildings, embodied in the City's Zoning Resolution. The two enactments could thus exist side by side in an area of "concurrent jurisdiction."
* Regulation of the electoral process as it affects local elections is similarly an area of joint state/local interest and jurisdiction. In Procaccino v. Board of Elections, the court recognized this concurrent concern in considering a state law pertaining to the conduct of primary elections for certain local offices in New York City, stating that "the elective process delineated in [the statute] is of concern both to New York City insofar as it affects the City, and to the State, insofar as control over the elective process and its conduct resides in the legislative power...The court's statement in Procaccino applies equally as well to campaign financing in local contests, which implicates both the city's interest in good government and the state's interest in ensuring fair elections as the basis of a democratic policy. The Election Law and the new City law may thus coexist in the same regulatory area...
Current state law restricting campaign contributions does not contain, and the relevant legislative history does not provide, an express statement that the state legislature intended to preempt local laws providing optional public financing of local election campaigns...
An examination of the history, scope and purposes of state laws pertaining to campaign contributions and expenditures demonstrates that existing state law does not preempt the local campaign finance law. The state campaign contribution and receipt rules set forth in article 14 of the Election Law do not constitute a comprehensive and detailed regulatory scheme which is indicative of legislative intent to occupy the entire field of campaign financing. To the contrary, the scope of article 14 is relatively narrow, focusing on only one aspect of campaign financing-- campaign contributions by private persons and entities..."
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