Chris Cox On Randy Altschuler

ALTSCHULER OUTSOURCES HIS LIES ONCE AGAIN.  Still Refuses to Support Republican Nominee

Smithtown, NY — The campaign of Chris Cox, the genuine conservative Republican and the only candidate assured of a ballot line in November for the First Congressional District seat, today responded to the latest outsourced job by former Green Party member Randolph Altschuler: a series of outright fabrications.

“Once again, while refusing to address the issue at hand - Mr. Altschuler’s refusal to support the eventual Republican nominee and his insistence on a doomed minor party run despite its consequences for the people of Suffolk County - the Altschuler campaign shows it has no regard for the truth whatsoever,” said Brad White, Campaign Manager for Chris Cox for Congress.

“Last Thursday evening, Chris Cox repeated to the hundreds of assembled members of the Smithtown Republican Committee in reference to his intentions should he not win the September 14^th primary: ‘I will support the Republican candidate. I always have and I always will.’  That is the pledge which Chris Cox has made throughout this campaign to all the voters of the First CD in the knowledge that the best way to defeat the liberal Democratic incumbent was with a genuine conservative running on the Republican and Conservative lines.  Even Suffolk Conservative Chairman Walsh agrees.  Unfortunately, Mr. Altschuler has, at best hemmed and hawed.  In his campaign’s latest outsourced attack, he still refuses to support the Republican nominee.  He didn’t commit to Republicans when he was screening for the GOP designation nomination, and he refuses to commit now.  Apparently, he thinks Republicans are stupid and will believe any lie his money can try to sell.”

THE LATEST OF THE MANY OUTSOURCED LIES: Altschuler’s Campaign Manager claiming that Chris Cox “signed pledge in March saying he would run on CP [Conservative Party] line alone.”

THE TRUTH: There is no pledge to run on the Conservative line alone.

In seeking both the Republican and Conservative designations, Chris Cox made eminently clear that he would support the eventual winner of the Republican Primary.  On March 21st, Chris Cox did sign the Conservative Party “Candidate Commitment.”  In no way does that commitment lessen his more important commitment to the Republican Party, or force him to split the ticket regardless of other circumstances.

The commitment reads; “I hereby commit to the voters in the political subdivision that encompasses the office I am seeking, to run a full, committed campaign on the Conservative Party line throughout the complete campaign cycle of June 2010 to November 2, 2010.” 

After the Appellate Courts restore the Conservative Opportunity to Ballot, and Chris Cox wins both the Conservative and Republican primaries, he will indeed run a full, committed campaign on both lines.

AN EARLIER OUTSOURCED LIE:  Altschuler and the Conservatives seek to unify the ticket.

Suffolk Conservative Party Chairman Ed Walsh sent a July 7, 2010, letter to Chris in which he wrote:  “Traditionally, the Republican and Conservative Parties have worked together here in Suffolk County to elect officeholders who stand for a series of principles and common ideals that we both endorse…. however, what is absolutely required for success, is that our nominee shares Conservative and Republican support.”

Apparently, Mr. Walsh and Mr. Altschuler either were lying then, or are lying now.

 THE TRUTH:  Lifelong Republican Chris Cox sought both the Republican and Conservative lines precisely because he intends to run a full, committed campaign on both lines.

Chris Cox is also the only candidate to amass the endorsement of major Tea Party organizations, such as the largest affiliated group in the First CD, the Suffolk County 9-12 Project.

Chris Cox filed thousands of independent signatures, which means — when added to the signatures already filed for the Republican Party and the Conservative Party Opportunity to Ballot — that more voters signed petitions for Chris Cox than for his two Republican competitors combined.

 AN OUTSOURCED LIE ABOUT OUTSOURCING: “Randy Altschuler has never outsourced an American job.”

That is the most blatant of the stunning mistruths spoken by Brookhaven Councilwoman Jane Bonner - an enrolled Conservative — in a robo-call attacking Chris Cox and refusing to acknowledge his residence in Westhampton Beach or his lifelong residence in the State of New York.

THE TRUTH: The widely reported fact that Mr. Altschuler sent American jobs overseas has been reported in countless business and news publications, including Business Week, Time Magazine, and the Los Angeles Times.

In the documentary “Office Tigers” Mr. Altschuler and his partner Joe Sigelman not only admit they moved American jobs overseas to India and elsewhere, but wrap themselves in glory for the dubious achievement.

Soon after they sold their company OfficeTiger to RR Donnelley for some $250 million, RR Donnelley was ranked 49 in the Top Offshoring Providers list, a sub-list of The Global Outsourcing 100, by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP).

A sampling of links:

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_28/b3942429.htm

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_37/b3950087_mz020.htm

http://www.financialexpress.com/news/rr-donelley-acquires-officetiger-for-250-m/37185/

Remembering Haiti

By John Dennehy

    In 2007 I visited some villages in India that were destroyed by the Indian Ocean tsunami three years before, and I was saddened by what I saw.  The greatest natural disaster of my lifetime had brought headlines and aid money to the south-eastern coast of India, but the money and the reporters left long before anything sustainable was built, and the disaster dragged on silently. 

    A few months after returning from a visit to Haiti I saw the news headlines about that nations capital reduced to rubble and I expected a similar pattern of immediate but short lived concern.  I was wrong.

    More than half a year on and the world has not forgotten.  Much of the pledged money has not yet come and it seems likely that much of it never will, but no matter.  As much as we like to think that throwing money at a problem will solve it, that is so rarely the case.  Immigration and debt reform, government corruption, environmental policy and the myriad of other issues that made the western third of the island of Hispaniola so vulnerable to disaster do not have price tags, but they can be solved. 

   Haiti´s burden of debt has been erased by many donor nations.  The severe immigration restrictions have been eased by many of Haiti´s neighbors.  The next government will, with little effort, be the least corrupt in generations.  Not only are these real changes but they are long term; and they are because the world continues to care.  Unlike past tragedies that fade from our thoughts as quickly as they appeared, this Caribbean nation has held our attention, and that makes all the difference.  The immigration reform, the debt relief, and everything else is greatly helped by the simple fact that we have not forgotten.  If we had ignored the nation as we did before, I believe that the other governments would happily continue to collect debt interest and the next Haitian government would fill its pockets with as much gold as all the past ones have, but not now, not while we watch. 

    I think it may be hard for many Americans to comprehend how desperate the situation in Haiti was before the earthquake and so this wound will take a very long time to heal, but even from this skeptics perspective, we are making progress. 

Cleaning up Jericho Tpke

By Erica Jackson

Heading down Jericho Turnpike into Commack anyone can see that the economy has taken its toll.  Gas stations and shops that were once bustling with business now sit vacant.  Weeds have taken up residence in the empty parking lots as had a stray junk car dealer that had locals up in arms.

 

The dealer say residents, just added to the blight in the area.  In a letter to SmithtownMatters.com, one resident wrote, “Commack boasts some lovely scenery.  Four corners by the sawmill on Harned Road is lush and the sound of the frogs croaking at night is a delight.  The shopping areas, schools and fire houses are landscaped, stylish and very clean.  Yet, the Smithtown side of Commack suffers from a particular blight.  There are a number of empty gas stations, some are in transition seeking new business operators and some are in the process of demolition. However, it is due to the number of empty lots on the Smithtown side of Jericho Tpke. that Commack has the Junk truck.  It rotates its location in abandoned service stations imploring, GOT JUNK CARS.”

 

The truck, according to Jeff Horton, senior investigator for the Town of Smithtown, is now gone and its owner will be facing charges in court.  “Nothing should be taking place in these empty lots,” said Horton.  “If anyone sees anything, they should contact me.” 

 

Horton says he is keeping a watchful eye over the area for any town code infractions to help with the blight situation, but he believes the area is in pretty good shape considering. He said, “Compared to other towns, we are in decent shape.  You don’t realize how good our town looks unless you drive through some other areas like in Huntington and Islip.”

 

Still, area residents hope the town can do something more to help improve the area. Bruce Ettenburg, president of the Commack Community Association says his organization is looking to improve the area with with a Veterans’ Memorial Park. He said, “Commack is the only hamlet in Smithtown that does not have a veterans memorial and we are trying to work with the town to get one.” He continued, “Jericho would be a likely place for it.”

Ettenburg says he would hope a park could help strum up some business in the area, but he also said that the town needs to start involving the stakeholders in its master plan process. The stakeholders, he said may have ideas that could be included in the master plan to help improve the area.

 

The master plan, now in the works for four years is expected to help guide town officials in planning the town’s future.  It will, said Frank DeRubeis, Smithtown town planner, address Jericho Turnpike as well as other areas in the town that are having similar issues.  

“The problem with Jericho,” said DeRubeis is that the zoning for the area dates back to the 1920s when “strip” zoning was the norm.  He said, “Businesses were located along a strip with residences behind them.”  It became apparent, he said, around 50 years ago that strip zoning was not a good idea. “It left more space for commercial uses than what can be absorbed,” he said.

 

To remedy the issue, DeRubies said the town must take a hard look at what the town’s land use needs are.  That hard look will come in the form of eight reports that are slowly being released by the town’s planning department as part of the master plan process.

 

According to DeRubies, after the town releases it’s reports, his department will then work on a corridor analysis that will include strategies to improve blighted areas, such as Jericho Turnpike. In the case of Jericho, DeRubies said he may recommend allowing for multifamily residences or suggest that the town install sewer lines in the area to allow for businesses such as restaurants.

 

DeRubies said, “Right now, you are limited in that area on what you can do because there are no sewers.” Once all reports are released and recommendations are made, DeRubies said the public will be invited to make comments.  An environmental impact statement will also be required before the Master Plan is finalized. It isn’t expected, however, that the plan will be made final anytime soon. DeRubeis said, We are looking at several years down the line.”

Update on Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at 11:12PM by .

Same Truck, New Location 8/31/10, 9/01/10

Congressman Bishop Wants You To Know About New Credit Card Rules

As of August 22, 2010, credit card companies must adhere to the following rules:

•              Your credit card company must justify increases in your Annual Percentage Rate (APR).

•              If your credit card company increases your APR, it must re-evaluate that rate increase every six months and, if appropriate, reduce your rate within 45 days after completing the evaluation.

•              Your credit card company cannot charge you a fee of more than $25 unless:

One of your last six payments was late, in which case your fee may be up to $35; or

Your credit card company can show that the costs it incurs as a result of late payments justify a higher fee.

•              Late payment fees cannot exceed the level of your minimum monthly payment.

•              Your credit card company can’t charge you inactivity fees, such as fees for not using your card.

•              Your credit card company can’t charge you more than one fee per event or transaction that violates your cardholder agreement. For example, you cannot be charged more than one fee for a single late payment.

Bank Robbery at TD Bank - Smithtown Branch

Thursday, August 26, 2010 at 12:45 p.m.

Suffolk County Police Major Case detectives are investigating a bank robbery that occurred today at a TD Bank branch in Smithtown. A man entered the bank, located at 714 Smithtown Bypass, and passed a note to a bank teller announcing a robbery.  The man fled with an undisclosed amount of cash toward the rear of the bank at 12:45 p.m.

A dye pack was concealed within the cash and it exploded soon after the suspect left the bank.  The suspect then dropped the cash and fled the scene.  He was last seen on foot heading toward the rear of Famous Dave’s Restaurant located next to the bank.

The man was described as black, 30-40 years old and 6 feet to 6 feet 2 inches tall.  He was wearing a dark shirt and blue jeans, a fishermen-style hat and glasses. 

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will remain confidential.