The problem with Facts - they require more investigation

Mr. Jenkins wrote 'Some facts regarding the End of the CSEA Lawsuit against Westchester County’ below. I’ve taken the liberty to respond to his letter to ‘we the taxpayers’.

Here are some facts regarding the dismissal of a lawsuit against Westchester County by the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) on behalf of 38 former county Section 8 employees.

1 Fact:  Judge Hubert did not uphold the County Executive’s decision to dismantle the Section 8 program in Westchester. The judge dismissed CSEA’s case against both the County Executive and the Westchester County Board of Legislators (BOL).

Here we begin with the magic of word smith used by the Super Majority ad nauseam. Jenkins states the case was ‘dismissed’, Astorino claims the Judge upheld his argument. Here’s the official definition of ‘dismissed’  ready: As a matter of law, the prosecution, or the plaintiff, has failed to present sufficient evidence to prove the claim'.  


So much for Fact Number 1. 






2 Fact:  The BOL voted to restore funding for the Section 8 program in the 2011 Budget, but did not join CSEA in the lawsuit, as County Executive Astorino has previously stated. The BOL was a defendant in the case, along with County Executive Astorino and New York State.

This statement has been proven false time and time again – but, let’s revisit it one more time. Astorino was required by the state to give at least a 60 day advanced notice that Westchester was going to relinquish their role in administering Section 8. THIS was done well before the budget process of the BOL was to begin. Once the budget process began, Jenkin’s super majority decided to include the program in the 2011 budget anyway thus restoring 38 CSEA eliminated positions believing their override would rule the day.

As to ‘not joining the CSEA in the lawsuit’ may I ask just one question here…Jenkins went on record in March stating: “We might not save 40 jobs; we might only save 35,” said BOL Chairman Ken Jenkins (D). “But that’s better than [nothing] in this current environment.” 

Does that sound like someone who is ‘not joining’ with a taxpayer lawsuit?

ALSO be sure to read Fact #5

 So much for Fact #2

3 Fact:  HUD, or the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, determines the amount of funds available to Westchester County for public housing and Section 8 vouchers. Dismantling the Section 8 program in Westchester, which had been in existence for the last quarter of a century, meant that the County lost $4 million in funding. Contrary to what County Executive says, New York State paid for the administrative costs associated with the Section 8 program in the County, including all benefits and expenses. Any additional funds spent would be at the discretion of Westchester County.

Ahh that funny accounting gimmick rears its ugly head again. The Section 8 Housing cost $4.5 MILLION to run. The State gave us $4 Million. Unless my calculator is broken – that leaves us with a $500,000 SHORT FALL. Unless Jenkins can prove that the additional $500,000 was ‘discretionary spending’ this is a moot point.

So much for Fact #3

4 Fact:  The $4 million in Section 8 funding the County was to receive goes to an Atlanta, Georgia-based company that now administers the County’s Section housing program. Millions of dollars that were once deposited into the Westchester economy now get shipped out of state.

Now if you read that one quickly you’d think Atlanta just hit the jackpot and we lost – but remember – that $4 million goes to running the Section 8 program that cost us an extra $500,000.

So much for Fact #4

5 Fact:  County Attorney Robert Meehan had to recuse himself from the case—at a cost of $55,000 to tax payers for outside counsel—because he provided privileged advice to County Executive Astorino. The BOL voted to waive Meehan’s conflict issues and thus allow him to represent the County Executive.

OH Jeeze – This one is a little more detailed - Jenkins stated back in February of this year that ‘although he thought this might be a conflict of interest’ for Meehan, he wanted him to stay with the lawsuit.  On Feb. 4, Meehan sent the BOL a letter that officially announced his recusal from the case due to conflict amongst clients. “Under the New York Rules of Professional Conduct,” the Feb. 4 letter read, “I cannot represent any of the parties in this matter. Consequently, I hereby withdraw the County Attorney’s Office from any legal representation of the County and its officers in the lawsuit.”

Chairman Jenkins said that Meehan could not do that and that the law was on the BOL’s side. He cited Section 501, subsection 2 of the Laws of New York State which read that Meehan was required to side with the county in the case of conflict and that Astorino would have to pay for an attorney at his own expense. “The state law requires that you represent us,” Jenkins said. “If the county executive has a differing position then he is certainly entitled to hire an attorney at his own expense, not utilizing taxpayers’ funds.” Now because Meehan had recused himself (you know following the law not the ‘we’re above the law game’ Jenkins & co were playing) he then suggested in that letter that the BOL and Astorino “secure separate counsel to represent conflicting interests.”

Meehan was questioned about this – his response - “I’m not going to debate the issue. On the laws of the Code of Conduct, it’s inappropriate for the County Attorney Office to be attorneys in this matter. We will not represent conflicting interests in the same lawsuit.”

So, long story short – the bullying Super Majority chose to take on ‘We the Taxpayers’ when they went against Astorino’s common sense move to SAVE MONEY and now cry that it cost $55,000.

So much for fact #5

6 Fact:  The Astorino Administration states, in its recent Analysis of Impediments document, that it will ‘address the issue of limited subsidized housing and assistance programs within Westchester’ by preserving HUD subsidized properties. Westchester County was the largest administrator of Housing Choice vouchers for Section 8 housing.

We may have been the largest Mr. Jenkins but it was a money pit. Now, we’re leasing space TO THE STATE and receiving about $237,000 a year in rental income. That amount goes to the PLUS side of our budget.

So much for fact #6

As always – feel free to ‘fact check’ this for yourself. You’ll soon learn that although the Super Majority states their own ‘facts’ the truth is their facts leave much to be desired. 

Voter Beware!

BOL Chairman Jenkins was invited to join the NACO’s Community and Economic Development Steering Committee where he will discuss housing programs, public works and economic development. I find this extremely troubling for many reasons. 

This is the same man that refuses to take responsibility for fudging our budget with fake cuts; refuses to realize spending money on food is ridiculous at the taxpayer’s expense; spends the majority of his ‘op-ed’ time blasting our County Exec on things that usually prove to be false accusation. Jenkins takes the ‘blame game’ and ‘redistribution of wealth’ playbook of Obama’s to new heights. 

Let’s also not forget that Peter Harckham is a big fan of Mr. Jenkins and votes accordingly (Please keep in mind that Harckham ignores consistently the fact that he is supposed to represent District 2 not Yonkers - so it's all linked together and it's all very troubling).

Voter beware!

http://www.thedailyharrison.com/news/ryan-jenkins-join-us-county-gov-association

Westchester County is on Notice

Way back in 2010, Rob Astorino vetoed the spending plan of the Super
Majority. Their accounting gimmicks were seen for what they were,
gimmicks. Astorino sent a letter to the Legislators stating that
‘Never in the history of our County has a C.E. or B.O.L. used any
funds, surplus or reserve from the current ongoing fiscal year in an
attempt to cover the cost of additional spending in budget being
adopted for the very next budget year.


This morning in the Journal News we read a statement from Ken Jenkins citing the board's cutting the tax levy by 2.2%, trimming the workforce by 10% and slicing $28 million from the budget. 
http://tinyurl.com/3bzdhng  


Hmm, not so fast.


The fact is Harckham and crew added $32.5 MILLION in spending back into the
budget. To cover their expenses they raised our reserves and
misrepresented their accounting by increasing the sales tax projection
by $2.3 MILLION; added back $2.6 MILLION in nonexistent federal aid;
took $5 MILLION from the general fund balance; they deleted $10
MILLION in funds that were set aside to pay for unsettled union
contracts; and now they are ‘befuddled’? The Super Majority was warned
about using our reserve funds as their private piggy bank to trick the
voters.


Time to vote them out!

A Serious Problem requires Serious People

Legislator Harchkam and Board Chairman Jenkins, for months, told us they had put forth a plan better than Astorino’s saving us a ‘great deal of money’ and ‘lowering taxes’. Astorino said all they did was shuffle money around. Well friends, the rooster has come home to roost – turns out, yet again, that Astorino was correct. The article states that ‘lawmakers were befuddled’, I would have to assume they meant the Super Majority. Westchester County’s bond rating outlook lowered: http://tinyurl.com/3jfrl5b

Herein lies the problem with vetoes, super majorities, and non profits. Someone, somewhere, should be monitoring how OUR money is being spent don’t you think? Westchester’s Cornell Cooperative in need of promised funds: http://tinyurl.com/3pem6o7

And herein lies another example of the problem when a super majority, with the spend spend spend mentality, rules the roost: http://tinyurl.com/3vak8ch

Now, add up those three stories – are you not sick of the calls for bi-partisanship or reaching across the aisle? I am.  We here in Westchester have a spending problem (yes, just like the one in Albany and DC but on a lesser scale), one that Astorino has tried and tried to curtail. The out of control spending must stop. That’s why I am running for the county leg – someone’s got to get in there that isn’t seeking a career, isn’t seeking to make friends, and someone who realizes there is no money tree in the back yard. We need serious people in these seats and if that means replacing every single one of them that doesn’t comprehend the big picture – then that’s what we must do.  I haven’t been pressing my candidacy on you – but today I am b/c this is just becoming so ridiculous. We’ve got to get the word out that this Super Majority must go and be replaced with REAL conservatives. Westchester needs YOUR help. It’s time to get serious and fast.  http://lisa4westchester.com/

OOPS, THEY DID IT AGAIN

Do you know the Britney Spears song ‘Oops I did it again’? Seems a most appropriate song for what the Democrats just pulled – again. Yes, I am speaking of their override of Astorino’s veto to ensure a ‘free’ entrance fee to Playland for Westchester Residents. Please pay no mind that the lost revenue has to be made up somewhere;  Please pay no mind that this will HURT not HELP Westchester in any way shape or form.

In Britney’s song she sings ‘You see my problem is this: I’m dreaming away; Wishing that heroes, they truly exist. Can’t you see I’m a fool in so many ways? But to lose all my senses that is just so typically me….’ You get the idea.

We need a wake up call for this Super Majority. Seems they are ‘dreaming away’ believing that Playland losing money isn’t so; believing that taking away the entrance fee will ‘bring more people in’ (in truth I agree with this one in that it will bring more teenagers in who only want to ‘hang around’ which of course will turn off the families that we should be trying to attract).  It’s important to note that statistics show through June 12th of this year, resident spectators numbered 7,323, down from 12,212 in 2010. Conveniently, the Super Majority blames the spectator fee but the reality is – has anyone bothered to notice our Economy? Worse yet, the Dems have no workable/realistic plan to recoup the $377,000 we now will lose – that we need! Dare I say Typical?? Problem is, facts are facts and those facts scream ‘Houston We Have a Problem’!

Britney may have gotten ‘lost in the game’ but we cannot afford to. Our Super Majority doesn’t seem to grasp the concept that we pay fees every single day! The latest argument is a ‘double tax’ argument. By far, I find this one the MOST humorous. Can someone, anyone, give me one example of where we are not double taxed?

“The goal is to get people into Playland—not keep them out,” said Legislator and Minority Whip Judith Myers (D-Larchmont).  With all due respect Ms. Myers, the goal for Playland is to make a profit and Stop Running at a deficit to the detriment of Westchester County taxpayers! 

Two Sides to Every Story

There are always 2 sides to a story. 


Here's Chairman Ken Jenkins side (WCBOL)  http://tinyurl.com/3hdcqyp 


Here's County Exec. Rob Astorino's side: 
http://www3.westchestergov.com/news/3008-response-to-rally-on-mt-vernon-mental-health-clinic



Now, let's try and figure out which 'side' makes the most sense shall we??


Done? Already?? 


Me too. Facts are just that - facts! Gotta Love em'.

The latest saga.....

Well, here we go again. Reported on Friday June 24^th, the Democrat Super Majority have yet another problem with County Executive Rob Astorino.  It’s being reported that cuts to 31 different Invest-in-Kids programs (overseen by the County - run by non-for-profit agencies) have been made to the tune of $141,000. Ken Jenkins and crew are crying that Astorino has broken the law. 

Now, for simplicity let’s start with the basics… the county’s job is to oversee these programs. Good government worries about every penny, works to keep beneficial programs alive while ensuring we don’t have duplicating programs, and finding ways to be fiscally responsible to every taxpayer. Okay, back to the story.

Ned McCormack (Astorino’s senior adviser) is quoted in the Journal News as saying “We should be spending what’s necessary and not a dollar more. We are constantly working to stretch every tax dollar. In the case of youth programs we have worked closely with our providers to find savings with the result that we have actually INCREASED the total number of kids served in the first five months of this year by about 15 percent compared to the same period last year.”  That, to me, sounds like a success story!

On the Westchester County Legislators website we read “Now we need to know what reductions in services to the youth of Westchester have occurred because of these unexplained actions,” said Legislator and Community Services Committee member MaryJane Shimsky (D-Hastings-on-Hudson). It doesn't sound like much, if any, if we refer back to McCormack's statement. If there really is a loss of services then we have something to talk about but a reported 15% increase leaves much doubt that something is being lost no? 

Anyway, Chairman Jenkins is on record stating that any decision to make cuts is a violation of the Budget Act of 2011, citing the following:

Sections 15 and 16 of the 2011 Budget Act state: “…the full appropriations set forth in Miscellaneous Budget (52) including line 2081 (Invest in Kids programs) are hereby determined to be amounts necessary and sufficient for the purposes designated and except upon the prior approval of the Board of Legislators Committee on Budget and Appropriations and where relevant shall be fully expended through contracts with not-for-profit organizations…The policies adopted by the Board of Legislators in connection with the approval of the 2011 County Budget shall be enforced consistent with the appropriations herewith. No changes shall be effective without the approval of the Board of Legislators pursuant to the Laws of Westchester County.”

I get it – I really do. The super majority wants to vote on it and it does read that they should vote on it. But let’s break down just one piece of the law – “determined to be amounts necessary and sufficient for the purposes designated”. If it’s been determined that what has been budgeted is too much, wouldn’t it make sense to cut that amount and put it elsewhere where it could perhaps be of more use? If it’s a fact that we’ve seen a 15% increase using only x amount of dollars – leaving a surplus – shouldn’t we reclaim that budget line surplus?

I may be alone here but in my view the county executive’s job is to be responsible for the administrative and management functions of county government. Their job is to keep our county moving forward all the while being the most fiscally responsible.

The Super Majority seems to still believe we have a surplus of money and sides with the ‘spend our way out of this mess’. All we need to really do is look at the Playland fiasco, the union lawsuit, and their continual efforts not to cut anywhere.

Astorino is taking a look at everything. Isn’t that something both sides should be doing? It might behoove Westchester in allowing the board to vote on this – as once and for all there will be no doubt who is worried about YOUR tax dollars and how they are being spent and who is not.