Archive for November, 2011
Westchester Residents Beware – Astorino’s Version of a Reformer
November 24th, 2011 by catherineDISTRICT #3 has elected a truly ETHICALLY-CHALLENGED representative.
His name, and Astorino’s hand picked candidate who he labeled a reformer, is Michael Smith. (Makes you question what kind of reform Astorino is looking for!!)
It is essential that as we move forward voters keep a very sharp eye on Smith.
Yes, Smith opposes abortion even in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the woman.
In addition, Smith has a very questionable history at best. He seems willing to do anything to win. Nothing is off limits.
To win this election, Smith ran ads about Legislator Nonna that were intentionally misleading–that’s not just our opinion but the findings of the non-partisan Fair Practices Campaign who found him guilty. Smith also apparently ran an equally offensive and untrue recorded phone call to voters on Election Day to scare them into voting for him. And that’s just the beginning.
Smith, as Board President of Valhalla School Board, actively supported and fought for a contract the New York State Controller found to be illegal as did the New York State Supreme Court.
Printed on the Valhalla Voice website, November 2, 2011
“Mike Smith’s record speaks volumes”
“As a taxpayer in the Valhalla school district I am still amused that Mr Smith is running as a tax cutter. He is anything but. In his first 3 years on the Valhalla BOE spending rose 21%. The increase one year before had been 8.8% so where were the cuts?
He is now opposing the $1 a year county lease for the children’s museum, but never opposed Valhalla’s $1 a year Easter Seals lease, the district lost $2.4 million on that deal.
When state auditors shut down the illegal Westhelp scam, Mike Smith voted to sue his own town to restart the illegal payments. He had no problem spending school district money on:
- Matching Grants to the Valhalla Schools Foundation even though it is illegal to fund private foundations with government money.
- Two full time salaries for Kensico School Principal
- Pay his own expense at a private school
- Donations to Easter Seals, another private foundation.
- Summer trips to the Grand Canyon
- Trips to the opera
- Dinners at trendy NYC restaurants
- Adult Ice Skating at Rockefeller Center
- Ocktoberfest at Bear Mountain
- A moonlight booze cruise on the Hudson
Despite Mr. Smith’s denials to the contrary, the Booze Cruise was on his watch, in August of 2006
Here are quotes from the 2008 NY State audit of Mike’s Smith’s Valhalla school district finances:
“District officials did not maintain complete and accurate accounting records to facilitate the proper and timely monitoring of the WestHELP Grant. As a result, of the approximately $1.7 million expended for the Grant, approximately $456,000 was not expended in accordance with the Grant agreement, proposals or applicable laws”
“The [Valhalla] Board did not provide sufficient oversight over District financial operations”
“The District overpaid for the Business Administrator’s life insurance premiums by $38,500”
“Internal controls over payroll were not adequate”
“The District did not have adequate controls over the payroll process”
‘District officials did not implement an effective system of internal controls to safeguard computerized data’”
Smith has proudly said that he stands by the contract. That illegal support will now cost Valhalla School District residents over a million dollars. Smith’s willingness to stand by a clearly illegal contract should worry Westchester residents.
Unofficial Election Results!
November 24th, 2011 by catherineWhy? Apparently Astorino is considered a rising star and a possible challenger to Governor Cuomo in 2014. (GOP Viewing Westchester as a Big Test, 11/8/2011)
Judy Myers, CLD #7 YES!!!
Plus 2 Open Seats that We Won
that were previously held by pro-choice legislators:
Catherine Borgia, CLD #9 YES!!!
Virginia Perez, CLD #17 YES!!!
These legislators are 100% pro-choice.
They protect our women, children, and families.
They understand the importance of our clinics, childcare, and health centers.
