Assemblywoman Sandy Galef
A message from
Assemblywoman
Sandy
Galef
TOWN MEETINGS
Start of Session
January 2007

2 Church Street, Ossining, NY 10562 • Phone: 914-941-1111
Fax: 914-941-9132 • e-mail:

Dear Constituents,

Town Meeting Schedule
with
Sandy Galef

Saturday, January 27, 2007

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Hendrick Hudson Free Library
185 Kings Ferry Road, Montrose

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Desmond-Fish Library
Routes 9D and 403, Garrison

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
The Field Library
4 Nelson Avenue, Peekskill

Thursday, February 1, 2007

7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Ossining Community Center
95 Broadway, Ossining

Saturday, February 3, 2007

10:00 a.m. – 12 noon
Putnam Valley Free Library
30 Oscawana Lake Road, Putnam Valley

1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Kent Free Library
17 Sybil’s Crossing, Kent Lakes

“Come to the town meeting and talk about state and local issues important to you.”

This is a new year, a new administration, and a new legislative session. I came into the legislature with reform on my agenda and have seen change occur. However, more needs to be done. We must change how we fund our schools to give relief to property taxpayers. Costs should be contained and economies made so that New York does not continue to be one of the most expensive states in which to live.

The issue of school funding was the topic of a roundtable I held in my district in September as Chair of the Assembly Committee on Property Taxation. Please read my report on the meeting with points made by the participants.

What ideas do you have about school financing? What concerns do you have about the direction of our state? Are there laws you would like to see changed? Is there legislation you would like to see introduced? Bring your questions and ideas to the Town Meetings I am holding throughout the area in January and February. It is a great opportunity to talk together, exchange ideas, and debate the issues of importance to you. I will share the latest news from Albany as our new governor and his team present their plan for reforming New York.

Please answer the questions on the back page on reforming “pork” or member items that have had little public scrutiny, but represent $200 million dollars in taxpayer money. In a state budget of over $110 billion dollars it may not seem like a lot; however, it is your money and you should know where it is going. For years I have been proposing changes to this secretive system. This year once again I am introducing legislation for reform and want your input.

I look forward to being with you at the Town Meetings and hearing from you.

Sincerely,
signature
Sandy Galef
Member of the Assembly



Report as Chair of the Real Property Taxation Committee

As Chair of the New York State Assembly Committee on Real Property Taxation, I was delighted to host our first public roundtable at Cortlandt Town Hall in September, 2006. The event was co-sponsored by Assemblyman Herman “Denny” Farrell, Chair of the Ways and Means Committee. The topic was looking at ways to fund our schools that do not rely on local property taxes. It was the first in a series that I am planning before introducing legislation to curb the rise in school property taxes.

A panel of experts and those in the audience made the following points:

  • Should make education costs a national responsibility.

  • Should consider a homeowner’s ability to pay.

  • Should have a personal income tax credit or “circuit breaker” that is more realistic than current limit for those with gross incomes of $18,000 or less.

  • Should provide more state aid and/or change current aid formula to be more equitable.

  • Should have state pick up total costs of education.

  • Should have budgetary restraints by school administrators as part of the solution to control school property taxes.

  • Should widen state income tax brackets from current 5 to 14, as there were in 1972.


Sandy Galef holds first roundtable in the 90th Assembly District as Chair of the Assembly Committee on Real Property Taxation.


Preparing for Disaster

As we go through these winter storm months, we need to think about emergency preparedness in case of a man-made or natural disaster. Steps to prepare in advance:

  1. Get informed of your community hazards, disaster plans, and warning systems.

  2. Make a plan by meeting with family, choosing an “Out-of-Town” contact, deciding where to meet, completing a family communication plan, knowing escape routes and safe places. Plan for those with special needs and pets.

  3. Make an action checklist that deals with home utilities, fire extinguisher, smoke alarms, insurance coverage, first aid/CPR, inventory of home possessions, vital records and documents.

  4. Assemble a disaster supplies kit for your home and vehicle.

  5. Maintain your plan by reviewing every six months, conducting a drill, restocking needed items, and testing emergency equipment.

  6. Learn CPR at home with a learning kit. Visit www.cpranytime.org or call 877-AHA-4CPR.

For details and brochures, go to the website called Ready New York, or go online to www.redcross.org or www.fema.gov or www.ready.gov. Call FEMA at 1-800-480-2520 or write to FEMA, PO Box 2012, Jessup, MD 20794-2012.



Tune In, Turn On To Sandy
photo Sandy and Dr. Christopher Malone of Pace University on “Speakout with Sandy Galef” discuss the changing demographics released by the U.S. Census Bureau and the impact of immigration on tax and education policies locally, statewide, and nationally.

Be informed on state and local issues aired on Sandy’s two cable television shows:

“Speak Out with Sandy Galef”

Ossining/Peekskill Channel 15:
Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m.

Yorktown Channel 22:
Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.

Wappingers Falls Channel 21:
Thursdays at 5:30 p.m.

“Dear Sandy”

Ossining/Peekskill Channel 15:
Fridays at 9:00 p.m.

Yorktown Channel 22:
Fridays at 5:30 p.m.

Wappingers Falls Channel 21:
Fridays at 5:30 p.m.



NYS Assembly Seal

Wanted:
District Office Interns

Sandy is looking for interns to volunteer at her district office at 2 Church Street in Ossining. Are you ready to help local constituents with their problems? Willing to do research on state and local issues? Interested in learning to write press releases? Want to get involved in legislation? Enjoy knowing firsthand the inside view of how government works? If so, please call the Assemblywoman at 914-941-1111.



photo

Sandy joins elected officials, volunteers and students in the statewide “Walk With Me” event to mobilize students in the fight against domestic violence. Participants included Galef’s three interns — Laura Treanor, Claudia Mei, and Luccie Wo. The students are local high school seniors who intern at the Assemblywoman’s district office. The main speaker was Ossining Town Police Chief Ken Donato. For counseling or legal help with domestic violence issues call The Northern Westchester Shelter at 914-747-0828. For emergencies call the 24 hour toll free hotline 888-438-8700.



Response to SAME-SEX UNIONS/ MARRIAGE Question

In my last newsletter I asked your opinions on legalizing same-sex civil unions and/or same-sex marriage. These are the responses from 1,113 of you:

1. Should New York State pass a law legalizing same-sex civil unions?

Yes
49.8% 		No
45.5% 		No Opinion
4.7%

2. Should New York pass a law legalizing same-sex marriage?

Yes
36.9% 		No
59.5% 		No Opinion
3.6%


Member Items Questionnaire

One of my priorities is to reform the system of member items, also known as “pork. ” Last year $200 million in member items, all taxpayer dollars, were doled out. Who received them and why was not a public process. Legislators use these monies as an unfair advantage over their political opponents by distributing the funds close to Election Day. Please give me your opinions as I prepare legislation to reform the current system. There is room for two respondents below.

1. Should all members of the state legislature receive the same amount of money to distribute throughout the communities they represent?

box YES box NO
box YES box NO

2. Should the member items system be changed so that it has specific standards to qualify for these dollars?

box YES box NO
box YES box NO

3. Should legislators be prohibited from giving out member items sixty days before an election so they do not have an unfair advantage over their political opponents?

box YES box NO
box YES box NO

4. Comments.



















Please mail completed form to:
Assemblywoman Sandy Galef
2 Church Street
Ossining, NY 10562-4802

Please include zip code for tallying purposes.
**Click here for a printable view**

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