Entries by . (2098)

Thursday
Sep092010

George Demos - Wants You To Know

George Demos said:

“Both Randy Altschuler and Chris Cox know that our campaign of consistent conservative principles has surged us into the lead. 

These pathetic and obviously untrue attacks is what desperate politicians do when they are losing. 

I’m sure on September 15th, both Randy Altschuler and Chris Cox will go back to wherever they came here from and we will never see nor hear of them again.”

Thursday
Sep092010

Rick Lazio - Ground Zero Cordoba Mosque

New York, NY - After two months of a divisive public debate over the Ground Zero Mosque, 70% of New Yorkers surveyed in a new Quinnipiac poll released last week believe Andrew Cuomo should examine the funding streams behind the Cordoba Initiative. This follows two months of a very public debate following Rick Lazio’s letter to Cuomo on July 7th asking the Attorney General as overseer of all registered charities to examine the funding sources behind the Ground Zero Cordoba Mosque:

Rick Lazio said, “Many view the Imam’s comment on CNN last night of terrorist activity in the United States if his Mosque does not get built as a veiled threat.  The Imam has invited this conclusion by his numerous offensive comments comparing America unfavorably to al Queda and saying that American policies were an accessory to the crime of September 11th. The Imam’s failure to answer simple questions with simple answers last night does not make him a ‘bridge-builder.’ It is just as outrageous that Andrew Cuomo refuses to do his job and examine all of the funding sources behind this project, from assets used to acquire the land to the Imam’s refusal to rule out taking money Iran for the construction of his $100 project.  It’s time for Andrew Cuomo to stop acting like an appeaser and take an accounting of what is going on right under his nose.” 

Standing with representatives of 9/11 families at a lower Manhattan news conference on July 7th, Rick Lazio pointed to several initial reasons why Cuomo needed to examine the Cordoba Initiative as overseer of charities, not the least of which were the public statements of the Initiative’s leader Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, including: 

RED FLAG: IMAM FEISAL ABDUL RAUF’S PUBLIC STATEMENTS:
• In June of 2000, the Imam refused to admit that Hamas is a terrorist organization on WABC radio. 
• Two weeks after the attacks of September 11, the Imam stated, “United States policies were an accessory to the crime that happened.” (60 Minutes – 9/30/0)
• In the same interview the Imam also stated, “In fact, it—in the most direct sense, Osama bin Laden is made in the USA.”  (60 Minutes – 9.30.01)
• “Imam Abdul Rauf … told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Islamic center will be financed through contributions from Muslims in the US, as well as by donations from Arab and Islamic countries,” the newspaper reported. (NY Post, May 25, 2010)
• In interviews with US media, Rauf has insisted funds would be raised here. “We hope to raise it from a combination of gifts from the local Muslim community and perhaps from some combination of bonds or something like that,” Rauf told WABC Radio’s Aaron Klein in May. 

The same day Andrew Cuomo said of the Mosque project: 
“I have not heard of any evidence of criminality… and if someone has evidence of criminality they should bring it forward.” 

Stated Rick Lazio: “For nearly two months New Yorkers have waited for Andrew Cuomo to look into the finances of the Ground Zero Mosque; waited while he toasted Charlie Rangel, waited while he raised over $9 million of Albany special interest money, and waited while he refused to do his job of protecting New Yorkers.”

Stated Rick Lazio: “Thanks to the enterprising reporters at the New York Post, The Daily News, ABC News, Fox News Channel, Fox 5 Television in New York and CNN we know that in addition to the Imam’s many troubling comments on CNN last night, that also the developers of the Mosque project did not deal in good faith with the Community Board as the real owners of the property to be developed.  We have heard contradicting stories about which countries might provide funding for this project, including Iran, and in recent days we have seen the revelation of the criminal backgrounds of the two financers of the project, including assault and Medicaid fraud.”

Lazio went on to point out further evidence of criminality behind the Cordoba Ground Zero Mosque.

RED FLAG: FALSE REPRESENTATION: DEVELOPERS DO NOT OWN ALL OF THE MOSQUE PROPERTY:
• The New York Post reported on August 8, 2010: “One of the two buildings on Park Place is owned by Con Edison, even though Soho Properties told officials and the public that it owns the entire parcel. And any potential sale by Con Ed faces a review by the state Public Service Commission.”  (NY Post 9/8/10)
RED FLAG: DEVELPERS NOT RULING OUT MONEY FROM IRAN:
• ABC NEWS reported on August 18, 2010, “Pressed on whether the developers were willing to rule out accepting donations from the governments of Saudi Arabia or Iran, he (Oz Sultan, spokesman for the developers) repeated, ‘I can’t comment on that.’” (ABC News, 8/18/2010).

RED FLAG: DEVELOPERS JADED CRMINAL PAST:
• The Daily News reported on August 28 that, “Years before his latest real-estate project ignited an uproar, Sharif El-Gamal racked up at least seven run-ins with the law, including a bust for patronizing a prostitute.”   The most recent of which was on September 10, 2005, for and assault on a barber who sublet a Manhattan apartment from El-Gamal’s brother, Sammy (The Daily News, 9/25/10).

RED FLAG: DEVELOPER IS A WAITER IN 2002 AND MAKES A SUDDEN PRUCHASE OF A $39 MILLION MANHATTAN PRPORERTY:
• Fox News Channel’s Craig Rivera reported on August 9, 2010:  Sharif El-Gamal was a waiter at Serafina Restaurant in 2002.  (Geraldo-At-Large, Fox News Channel, 8/9/10).
• The Daily News also reported on August 28, 2010:  “If his 2008 cries of poverty were genuine, El-Gamal experienced a dramatic reversal of fortune a year later, scoring a $39 million mortgage to buy a W. 27th St. commercial building. He had a partner, Egyptian-born businessman Hisham Elzanaty, who co-signed the loan. Elzanaty denied to discuss his dealings with El-Gamal.” (The Daily News, 8/25/10).

RED FLAG: EGYPTIAN MONEY MAN BEHIND MOSQUE PROJECT DEFRAUDED STATE MEDICAID PROGRAM AND TERRORIST FUNDER: 
• Fox 5 New York discovered Hisham Elzanaty is the Ground Zero Mosque Developer Sharif el-Gamal’s “guarantor” on the Ground Zero Mosque site: Mortgage documents obtained by Fox 5 confirm Elzanaty is the guarantor on a $39 million loan El-Gamal’s company used in buying the building. (WNYW-Fox5, 8/25/10,)
• Fox 5 also reported that Elzanaty was “ordered to repay more than $331,000” after “an audit showed that one of his companies was overpaid by Medicaid.”  “Elzanaty is the owner of several medical companies run out of a building in the Bronx. East Tremont medical center is a clinic. In the reception area, there is a picture of Elzanaty proudly posing with his staff. But as state records show, Hisham Elzanaty was ordered to repay more than $331,000. An audit showed that one of his companies was overpaid by Medicaid.” (WNYW-Fox5, 8/25/10)
• Fox 5 New York reported on September 2 that Elzanaty gave $6000 to an identified terrorist organization called the Holy Land Foundation. ((WNYW-Fox5, 9/02/10)

RED FLAG: IMAM FEISAL RAUF AGAIN DOES NOT RULE OUT TAKING MONEY FROM IRAN:
• Exchange between CNN Anchor Soledad O’Brien and Imam Rauf on September 9, 2010:
IMAM RAUF (with respect to origins of donations): We will do whatever is absolutely correct and legal and the safe thing to do.
SOLEDAD O’BRIEN: Which means what exactly? I mean, because that’s — that’s an extra condition.
IMAM RAUF: You see, I’m the visionary behind it. I’m not the actual builder. I’m not the financial expert. I’m not the legal expert on these things. But I have a vision here of establishing something which I know in my heart of hearts will be a powerful instrument of peace. (CNN, 9/9/2010) 

RED FLAG: IMAM’S “DODGY” COMMENTS OF TERRORIST ACTIVTY IF HIS MOSQUE IS NOT BUILT ON THE GROUND ZERO SITE:
• Imam Feisal Rauf’s comments on our “personal security” if we do not build the Mosque at the Ground Zero site on  CNN, September 9, 2010:  “Our national security, our personal security, is extremely important. And this issue has become, now, a national security issue. And therefore, in our conversations, in our decision making process, we have to weigh many, many factors, and that (location) has been dominant among them.” (Imam Faisal Rauf, CNN, 9/9/10)

Rick Lazio said, “How many more red flags does Andrew Cuomo need to do his job? By neglecting his duty as the chief law enforcement officer of New York, Andrew Cuomo has not only abused the public trust but brought on a divisive public debate which could have been avoided.  New Yorkers, 9/11 victims families and the Anti-Defamation League are still awaiting Andrew Cuomo to act.”

Wednesday
Sep082010

County Executive Steve Levy Announces Support For William Schoolman's Lawsuit To End MTA Payroll Tax

ATTACKING ONEROUS TAX—Suffolk Executive Steve Levy (at podium) was joined by William Schoolman, CEO of Hampton Luxury Liners and Classic Coach Companies, and Marie Zere, president and CEO of Zere Real Estate Services, in calling for an end to the MTA payroll tax that the trio said is having a devastating effect on area businesses, residents and non-profit organizations. (Note to editors: Photo is attached.)Hauppauge, NY – Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy today pronounced the MTA payroll tax to be the clarion call for “a complete overhaul of the failed business model of the MTA,” an authority that incurs more expenditures than revenue and traps taxpayers in a never-ending debt cycle. Levy announced his support for a private-sector lawsuit to end the MTA payroll tax on all parties and cited compelling legal opinions in calling for special legislation to obtain an outside review of the MTA’s wasteful practices.

The county executive was joined by William Schoolman, CEO of Hampton Luxury Liner and Classic Coach Companies and lead plaintiff in a taxpayer lawsuit to repeal the MTA payroll tax, in denouncing the MTA payroll tax on constitutional grounds and indicting the Authority business model as “a total failure for taxpayers.” Also participating was Marie Zere, president and CEO of Zere Real Estate Services, a Long Island firm focused on creating jobs and building relationships with economic development officials throughout the area.

Levy announced his support for the Schoolman lawsuit as the best way to repeal the onerous MTA payroll tax for all affected parties, not just local governments, because it is the only suit brought by a private business. In support of Schoolman’s taxpayer suit, Levy has directed the Suffolk County attorney to file briefs supporting Schoolman.

“There is a need to reign in the MTA’s absurd $13.5 billion to $5.9 billion expense-to-revenue ratio,” said Levy. “The MTA is the official mascot of failed authorities—and now, some legislators are seeking to create Long Island’s very own MTA-boondoggle in the form of a Public Benefit Corporation for the county’s skilled nursing facility in Yaphank rather than re-evaluating the very legitimacy of the authority concept.”

 Schoolman stated, “Despite its incredible competitive advantages – tax subsidies and bailouts – the MTA has not been able to run a self-sustaining business, while without all of these subsidies and head starts I have run a competing private company at a profit while providing efficient service to my customers. The MTA is the mascot of the failed ‘authority’ model. Our lawsuit represents a taxpayer revolt, a stake in the ground that says ‘enough is enough.’”

 Meanwhile, Zere said there has been an exodus of businesses due to the damaging MTA payroll tax. “We are losing people and families,” she said. “Two business clients who had to pay over $73,000 in MTA payroll taxes have picked up and moved to Pennsylvania. The MTA payroll tax is causing Long Island businesses to make a quiet exit from New York State.”

Levy emphasized that while the MTA is fixated on seeking new revenues, its problem result from inflated expenditures. “It cannot be clearer that continued reliance on the authority model is a disaster for taxpayers,” Levy concluded.

 To underscore the rampant mismanagement of MTA finances the county executive listed examples of irresponsible MTA expenditures, and called for special legislation to obtain an outside review of the MTA’s wasteful practices:

 

Top Ten List of MTA Irresponsibility

1.      A $20M employee lounge at Grand Central Station (Source: NYS Senate)

2.      $7M doghouse in Duchess County (Source: NYS Senate)

3.      #2 Broadway Line from $140M to $845M; (Source: NYS Comptroller)

4.      Engineers / conductors earning $283K plus $10K per mo. pension (Source: NYS Senate)

5.      8,210 out of 70,000 employees earn $100,000K (Source: Empire Research Group)

6.      1 out of 4 LIRR > $100,000 (Source: NYS Comptroller)

7.      $10,000 shoes – used once for people who had desk jobs (Source: A.M. New York)

8.      Under reported $500M while seeking 2002 fare increase (Source: NYS Comptroller)

9.      $2.3B in “Bloat” salaries (Source: Schoolman V. MTA)

10.  Staff Levels: 698 human resources, 443 legal, $10M in outside legal services, 444 in public relations, 359 accounting, 166 labor relations (Source: NYS Comptroller)

Wednesday
Sep082010

Long Island Jewish World Newspaper Endorses Chris Cox

  Publishers Cite Cox’s Commitment to “Fight Islamic Terrorism”

SMITHTOWN, NY — In their September 10-16, 2010 edition, the Long Island Jewish World newspaper, which serves the entire Jewish community from Brooklyn to Montauk, endorsed Chris Cox for Congress in New York’s First Congressional District.

 

The issue-oriented editorial praised Chris Cox, a successful marketing consultant and an New York University Law School graduate, for how he “has committed himself to fight “Islamic terrorism”, and for the fact that he has consistently warned of the dangers to both Israel and the United States if Iran is allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.”

 

After pointing out Chris Cox’s family lineage, the editorial also praised his grandfather — President Richard Nixon — for his vital support of Israel during the 1973 Yom Kippur War and went on to say, “Our support of Chris Cox is hardly based on his heritage.”

 

The newspaper editorial said that “the Hamptons”  a “genuine bastion of Jewish life, and the rest of the First District could use a vital young representative in Washington; we support Chris Cox in Tuesday’s primary.”

 

“I am delighted to have the endorsement of The Long Island Jewish World,” Cox said, “and I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of my Jewish friends a very happy and healthy New Year.”

 

The full text:

 

And last but not least, we have one final endorsement - for the first congressional district on Long Island - which bookends our initial endorsements in Brooklyn.  As a community paper, we are proud to serve the Jewish population from Williamsburg all the way east to Montauk.

 

Chris Cox, Republican, First Congressional District

 

It seems like only yesterday that President Richard M. Nixon ordered the airlift of much-needed weaponry to Israel at a dark time during the 1973 Yom Kippur War.  We haven’t forgotten that gesture, and are particularly pleased to express our support for Chris Cox, the late president’s grandson, in the upcoming Republican primary for the First Congressional District.  The 31-year-old Cox is also the son of Republican State Chairman Ed Cox, but our enthusiasm for his candidacy in a district that comprises much of Eastern Long Island, including the Hamptons, is hardly based solely on his pedigree.

 

The NYU Law School graduate and successful marketing consultant has committed himself to “fight Islamic terrorism,” and he’s consistently warned of the dangers to both Israel and the U.S. if Iran is allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.  The Hamptons, which are rapidly becoming a genuine bastion of Jewish life, and the rest of the First District could use a vital young representative in Washington; we support Cox in Tuesday’s primary.

Wednesday
Sep082010

A Fish Rots From The Head - Carl Paladino

(BUFFALO, NY) - Buffalo businessman Carl Paladino, a Republican candidate for Governor of New York, today criticized Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver for refusing to tell New Yorkers how deeply he’s invested in companies doing business with the State.

“A fish rots from the head, and Sheldon Silver’s lack of disclosure leads by example,” Paladino said. “Sheldon Silver is hiding something and, because he won’t come clean, the rest of his colleagues are likely loaded with conflicts of interest, too.”

Silver’s stake in companies doing business with the State is a secret protected by New York’s farcical disclosure laws. Lawmakers are not required to release how many shares they own beyond noting their value is above $1,000.

“Our state government operates under comically loose ethics guidelines permitting behavior that would be grounds for immediate dismissal at any private sector company,” Paladino said. “Not in a Paladino Administration. I would propose, pass and sign an ethics law with teeth requiring every state legislator to reveal all side income and what they do to earn that money - not some legislators, all legislators.”

“As Governor I will immediately appoint a special prosecutor with subpoena power to investigate evidence of corruption in government - especially the Legislature,” Paladino said. “I will also work to pass eight-year term limits on all elected state officials, eliminating elected officials like Silver who just won’t go away.”

Carl Paladino, a successful Western New York real estate developer and attorney, is a Republican candidate for Governor of New York. He and Tom Ognibene, candidate for Lieutenant Governor, petitioned their way into the Republican Primary and canvassed to create a new Taxpayers ballot line.