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March 30, 2008
Blue Skies, No Fences
Thursday, April 24, 2008
6:30 PM
Blue Skies, No Fences
Conversation Featuring Lynne Cheney & Pete WilliamsFor Lynne Cheney, who has always had a deep interest in history, the past becomes personal in this special program. In Blue Skies, No Fences, Mrs. Cheney paints a vivid picture of the 1940s and 50s in her hometown, Casper Wyoming, a place where the future seemed as bright as the blue sky overhead. She interweaves into her coming-of-age memoir stories of the westward-moving men and women whose journeys brought her family to the high Wyoming plains. People of great optimism, these pioneers persisted through sickness, war, grievous accident and financial calamity, certain that they would find a better life.
The New York Young Republican Club has a limited number of tickets to this event.
If you wish to attend this event for FREE, you must be a current 2008 member.
Please RSVP and we will let you know if tickets are still available.
Posted by NYYRC at 10:19 AM | Comments (0)
March 23, 2008
The Congested Money Grab
Congestion pricing for Manhattan will be a big mistake. All it will do is create a new source of tax revenue for politicians to find ways to spend and not reduce congestion. I don't care our Mayor and now Governor are in favor of it. The City Council and State Legislature must oppose this money grab policy that will find its way in increasing our budget by 30% or 40% or whatever. We already have a $60 billion budget, do we need one that is bigger?
I've watched the news showing 3rd Avenue or Times Square during rush hour. What do I see? Cabs. Buses. Trucks. Occasionally, what appears to be a privately owned car heads down the Avenue. Congestion pricing is supposed to deter people from driving on the streets of Manhattan. Well, if it appears all the vehicles are cabs buses, and trucks, which cars are coming off the roads?
If people realized they had to pay $8 a day or twice a day, they'd think long and hard about driving into Manhattan. OK. True. But how will they get here and how will they get around? Cabs? I see cabby fares going up because of this, so I can't imagine an uptick on fare rides. Buses? Subways? OK, this is a problem, because these modes of transportation are already overcrowded, how will more commuters squeeze on these transports?
People don't just drive into Manhattan for a fun ride. Commuters dread driving into the island, but if it's an absolute necessity, then one drives. Now, politicians want to collect money from you for driving, so they can cover pension costs or fund some more of their pet projects.
When someone asks me if I like Mayor Bloomberg, I reply, "I don't dislike him as a person." I'm sure if I met him at a political function or saw him on the subway or in a restaurant, I'd say hello and respect that he was elected twice as our chief executive. As a politician though, I feel he is a control freak looking to make New York City the Nanny Capital of the World. Our next candidate needs to possess a libertarian streak in his blood. If not our next mayor, then a handful of councilman and our public advocate.
I recently blogged about the L train at the 1st Avenue stop. The L train is extremely packed during rush hour. Forget the 7 train, it is the most congested subway train in the entire system. All trains are extremely congested and now the mayor wants to put more people on these trains, just to clear the roads. This doesn't really sit well with me and many other New Yorkers. Let's hope our council and state reject this congestion pricing money grab.
Posted by Daniel Peterson at 08:39 AM | Comments (1)
March 18, 2008
The NY GOP and the Future
New York is in uncharted waters right now with the highest "elected" official being its Attorney General, Andrew Cuomo. Neither the current governor, nor the comptroller was elected by the People. Yes, it is true new governor David A. Paterson was elected as part of the "Spitzer ticket," but Spitzer could’ve chosen any number of people to be his "running mate" and would've won by the same 69% margin.
One can also argue that 90% of our legislative body is "unelected." Many run unopposed every two years and the ones that get a challenger are usually re-elected by a significant margin. The leaders of both Legislative bodies fit this predicament. Speaker Sheldon Silver of the Assembly and Majority Leader Joseph Bruno the Senate never face serious opposition and are re-elected by default.
Right now, a State Budget is due on April 1 and some serious work needs to be done to create a balanced budget. Proposals of tax increases are being made to cover the spending increases. Little is being done about spending cuts. Governor Paterson has some real work cut out for him. Most New Yorkers should be worried, because he comes from the liberal belief of raising taxes and fees to cover spending shortfalls. Liberals never stop to think that if you raise taxes on the highest earners, these residents may simply move across the river to avoid the tax. Also, raising taxes doesn't help in the property tax issue that burdens the upstate economy. What business wants to move into Elmira or Syracuse, Buffalo or Rochester, if the business climate is unfriendly to your business?
I personally wish Governor Paterson the best of luck and hope he takes a Governor Hugh Carey approach to fixing New York's broken economy, but I also see an opportunity here for the New York State Republican Party. Part of me hopes to see the Democratic Party to implode on liberal excesses and the voting public to turn towards fiscally conscious conservatives for State Assembly and State Senate seats.
The GOP Assembly Caucus has to pick up a bunch of seats. Ten would be nice. Just to get a little more than the necessary 50 that are required to block a veto override. It's just hard to pick ten competitive districts that will switch and vote Republican this November. Qualified candidates are required and an aggressive and strong campaign is a necessity. A 95 – 55 Assembly chamber would be help the State of New York immensely.
The GOP Senate is at risk of losing its majority, holding on by a 32 – 30 lead. What is first and foremost, is holding on to the 32 seats already held by Republicans. Then, it would require the GOP to run strong campaigns in about a dozen districts just to win eight seats and bring the majority up to a 40 – 22 lead. Having the State Republican Party pick up some seats would send a clear message to the Democratic legislatures that the People of New York are not as liberal as some of its elected officials.
So what kind of message should these Republican have in their campaigns?
Well, lower taxes and less spending should be the first message. Fiscal discipline and transparency on where tax revenue is allocated in a budget is the second issue. Also, anti-business laws need to be repealed and pro-growth policies need to be put in place. The size of government needs to be slashed and some agencies should be privatized. Regulations need to be reduced or completely obliterated. These are key points that have to resonate with voters in a way that will relate to them on an every day basis.
We have a State Comptroller elected by the Assembly, but not by the People of this State. We have a new governor who was elected on a ticket, but was never expected to assume the role of governor. Though they both hold their position due to the constitutional process, the People of this State have to realize that men and women are running this State who were not put into their position of power by the voting public. The Republican Party needs to start bringing change and reform to the process. By running credible candidates and picking up legislative seats, we will begin to bring positive change for all.
Posted by Daniel Peterson at 04:27 PM | Comments (0)
March 16, 2008
April 10 Speaker Forum
The next New York Young Republican Club, Inc meeting will be held on Thursday, April 10, 2008.
Our Guests
Assemblyman Greg BallAssemblyman Greg Ball represents New York's 99th Assembly district which is comprised of the towns Patterson, Mahopac, Carmel, Southeast, Putna Lake and Brewster in Putnam County; Yorktown, Mohegan Lake, Somers, and North Salem in Westchester County; and Pawling in Duchess County.
Assemblyman Ball is a business executive, former active duty Air Force officer and has risen to prominence for his stance on illegal immigration, and has been named a Chairman of Lawmakers for Legal Immigration, an immigration reform group.
Lenore Skenazy
Lenore Skenazy is a columnist and features reporter for The New York Sun. She previously worked for the New York Daily News, NPR, and Mad Magazine. She was featured in the second episode of Bravo's series Tabloid Wars.
Lenore Skenazy has recently has received added attention for writting an article in which she admitted allowing her 9-year old commute home all by himself, walking the streets and riding the subway.
Ms. Skenazy will discuss parenting and ask whether we as a society have become overly protective and how the dangers today, if any, are real.
Please R.S.V.P. to this meeting/event.
Meeting Location
Soldiers', Sailors', Marines' & Airmen's Club 283 Lexington Ave (bet 36th & 37th St), 2nd Floor 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM Business Casual requested. Please be on time.
For After-politics Socializing
Come join us afterwards for drinks at: Margarita Murphy's 591 Third Avenue Between 38th and 39th streets
Posted by NYYRC at 10:52 AM | Comments (0)
The next NYYRC Event
Will be announced soon...
Posted by NYYRC at 09:13 AM | Comments (0)
March 11, 2008
MTA puts commuters’ safety at risk
I have many issues with the MTA, but there is one that has popped up this past week and I believe a serious issue with regards to public safety.
I take the L train across town to get to my job. I get on at 6th Avenue and head eastbound to get off at 1st Avenue. Lots of people get off at 1st Avenue – many of them are teenagers going to school, some are hospital workers with Beth Israel. In addition to the eastbound trains, the recent residential boom in Williamsburg, Greenpoint and other neighborhoods along the L train route has increased foot traffic arriving on the westbound side.
This past week, the MTA decided to fix a staircase leading down to the train platform on the west end entrance/exit at 1st Avenue on the eastbound side. When you get off a train, you walk up to the staircase with one side completely barricaded and mobs of people trying to file into two lines to exit. Commuters trying to come down the stairs are stuck waiting for the congestion to clear up, because there is no room on the one side of the stairwell. Unfortunately, this is the only entrance/exit for the station. Commuters have no choice but to exit the west end side of the station.
If an incident occurs on the train platform and everyone is required to exit the station immediately, we would be subject to a horrible mob scene where someone could get hurt. Can the MTA – who constantly cries it lacks money – afford a lawsuit if someone is injured or killed because it neglects safety issues?
So what can be done to increase safety and make this station more commuter-friendly? It’s time for the MTA to consider knocking down some walls and build an east end stairwell. Many stations throughout the subway system have two or more exits for a station platform. Since the 1st Avenue stop on the L train has seen an increase in foot traffic, it needs a second exit.
I’ve been told there were "exit-only" stairwells on the east end of the platforms. If that is the case, it shouldn’t be hard to put them back in, since the area was probably just barricaded and an unused stairwell exists behind a wall. But if that isn’t the case, the 1st Avenue station needs a second exit, for liability and safety reasons.
The MTA must consider reviewing all subway stations throughout the boroughs and study the foot traffic at each one. If there has been an increase in station use and the stations only have one entrance/exit, then it’s time to look into adding another exit.
Posted by Daniel Peterson at 09:41 AM | Comments (0)
The Post-Spitzer Era
Right now, many Democrats and Republicans are trying to predict the outlook for their respective parties in the 2008 and 2010 elections.
Quietly, some Democrats who have ambitions for the governorship, like General Andrew Cuomo, already have planners for propping up the Attorney General's image and putting him in line for being the big name in 2010. Will voters be receptive to moving two Attorney Generals to the governorship in back-to-back elections?
Mayor Michael Bloomberg may have had an interest in challenging Eliot Spitzer in 2010, but if Andrew Cuomo runs, would be now reconsider?
And the renewed hope with the dwindling Republican Party of the State. How should they expect voters to respond to its party?
Well, Republicans have to do a few things.
1. Put togeter a party platform that New Yorkers expect of Republicans. One that is fiscally conservative, crime fighting, socially conscious and pro-growth with policies that can renew the entire states economy.
2. Use the list of coruption in Albany as a selling point to increase the GOP in Albany. With one exception, all were Democrats. The list is getting expansive starting at the top. Spitzer, Alan Hevesi, Adam C. Powell IV, Ada Smith, Brian McLaughlin, Diane Gordon, Clarence Norman Jr, Kevin Parker, Guy Velella (the only R), Roger Green & Gloria Davis.
The Assembly Minority really needs to build its stature in the lower house. Fifty seats are needed to block an Assembly override of a bill or law that could be too liberal or too costly for the state.
The Senate Majority is dancing on a one seat majority. The GOP needs to target every seat it lost since 1994 and it needs to have candidates that can focus primarily on the two points I mentioned. It also needs to run on the mantle of Reform. Reform is a key issue for the Republican Party to make its case with the issues I mention.
Posted by Daniel Peterson at 09:09 AM | Comments (1)
March 02, 2008
March 13 Speaker Forum
The next New York Young Republican Club, Inc meeting will be held on Thursday, March 13, 2008.
Our Guests
Tim Connors Director of the Manhattan Institute's Center for Policing Terrorism. Mr. Connors is also a Civil Affairs officer in the United States Army Reserve stationed in Mattydale, New York.
He is the second in command of a Civil Affairs Battalion in the US Army Reserve, which consists of 130 soldiers who are specially trained to develop rapport with indigenous populations. A Civil Affairs unit handles all aspects of military interaction with civilians on the battlefield.
Please R.S.V.P. to this meeting/event.
Meeting Location
Soldiers', Sailors', Marines' & Airmen's Club
283 Lexington Ave (bet 36th & 37th St), 2nd Floor
7:30 PM to 9:30 PM
Business Casual requested.
Please be on time.
For After-politics Socializing
Come join us afterwards for drinks at:
Margarita Murphy's
591 Third Avenue
Between 38th and 39th streets
Posted by NYYRC at 12:14 PM | Comments (0)