February 12, 2012
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Editorial: Vote for Castelli for change
Thursday, 04 February 2010 00:00
It is clear what the overriding issue of this abbreviated campaign for the 89th District seat on the New York State Assembly is this year: Taxes.
Both candidates, Democrat Peter Harckham and Republican Robert Castelli, are vowing to reduce taxes, have very similar platforms, and would be excellent choices to represent Lewisboro and Katonah in Albany. But for once, being a member of the minority party in Albany has its advantages this year and makes Mr. Castelli the right choice on Tuesday.
This is the time for challengers of the status quo in Albany to take office and a stand against high taxes and the “three-men-in-a-room” political machine. In the past, the legislative voices of the minority party were easily drowned out — but that has since changed. Now, those same party members are bolstered by an electorate that is so fed up with high taxes that only months ago it forced out the seemingly invincible Andy Spano from county office. Due to the political climate both locally and nationally, the time is finally right to push for reforming Albany, its unfunded mandates, and its carefree spending ways.
Unfortunately for Mr. Harckham, his party leadership does not like opposition from within its ranks, and has been known to remove financial and political backing from those that do. Mr. Harckham will continue to be an independent voice if elected, but his own political survival will force him to be muted at times and limit his ability to effect change.
Mr. Castelli does not have the same political constraints and has vowed to be a much-needed reformer. He wants to end Wicks Law and the Triborough Amendment, which foist needless taxes on residents both locally and on the state level, and move power from party leadership to Assembly and Senate members. In addition, he wants to restore the STAR tax rebates, and wants to create housing in this area that will keep emergency workers in the communities they serve. Mr. Castelli also understands that water quality issues are a major concern in northern Westchester and points to his environmental record as a Lewisboro Town Board member, when he helped pass among the first wetlands and open space laws in northern Westchester, as proof that he will protect the water and environment.
The need for change in Albany is not new, but the ability to bring that about is. Electing Mr. Castelli is injecting a reformer into the heart of Albany when the old tax-and-spend regime is most vulnerable. For once, a chance at real reform is not idle rhetoric.
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Comments
Your argument appears to be that Mr. Harckham can effect change with a liberal majority that appears impervious to change. How'd that work out for him in White Plains?
And if Mr. Harckham can't change things, he'll get us a bit more "state aid" to pay for the mandates he and his friends will impose. Except that Albany's "state aid" is always a day later and several million dollars short. (See the school board budget.)
Besides "state aid" comes from state revenue, which comes from higher income taxes, which are paid by us!
It's hard to see how taxpayers come out ahead by sending another liberal tax-and-spend Democrat to work with other liberal tax-and-spend Democrats in Albany.
Robert Kesten
he did agree to cut the county legislature's staff costs by 11%-but only after a crusade by the Journal News pointed out they were the highest in the state and one staffer was placed under investigation. Was that reform?