Section: Editorial

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On the NCN: HARMON OPPOSITION TO WASTE $100,000+ TAXPAYER DOLLARS

November 13, 2009

Posted on the NCN:

A “deepthroat” within the Harmon Opposition disenchanted with the methods being used to deceive the public confirmed the next phase of their politically motivated plan.

Sensing that they have not been successful in convincing the residents of Croton that the Harmon revitalization plan is a Democratic plot to flood the village with “Democratic constituents” by creating housing for them, they have adopted a Plan B which will be launched immediately following the passage of the Harmon zoning changes.

Plan B is an Article 78 lawsuit, which is a legal procedure that can be used to challenge a change to zoning. The Harmon Opposition knows they have no chance of winning the case because the Harmon zoning changes are based on facts and the process has been open and inclusive. But winning is not their goal, buying time to the March elections is!

You see, the plan is simply to continue the same fear mongering, misinformation campaign in greater volume and intensity into the election season and try to pick up seats on the Village Board.

Pay careful attention to who is writing letters and speaking out against Harmon revitalization on a regular basis and I am sure it will quickly become obvious who these future Croton GOP candidates are likely to be!

The deeply troubling thing about the Harmon Opposition’s Plan B is that the Article 78 lawsuit defense they will file will have to be paid for by YOU THE TAXPAYER!

— Truth Hurts

More here: http://www.ncnlocal.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=2449

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Obama: Croton was not built by 'naysayers.'

July 5, 2009

President Obama devotes his address this week to remembering the “indomitable spirit of the first American citizens” who built this country and the lessons we can apply to the current challenges:

That is the spirit we are called to show once more. We are facing an array of challenges on a scale unseen in our time. We are waging two wars. We are battling a deep recession. And our economy - and our nation itself - are endangered by festering problems we have kicked down the road for far too long: spiraling health care costs; inadequate schools; and a dependence on foreign oil. […]

These are some of the challenges that our generation has been called to meet. And yet, there are those who would have us try what has already failed; who would defend the status quo. They argue that our health care system is fine the way it is and that a clean energy economy can wait. They say we are trying to do too much, that we are moving too quickly, and that we all ought to just take a deep breath and scale back our goals.

These naysayers have short memories. They forget that we, as a people, did not get here by standing pat in a time of change. We did not get here by doing what was easy. That is not how a cluster of 13 colonies became the United States of America.

Watch it:

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It's the Brown People, Stupid

June 28, 2009

Recent musings from Bruce Apar’s forum on proposed zoning changes for the Harmon section of Croton:

• Croton23: “The best part is…If we do start with this project, we will look more like Ossining or Peekskill- Is that what we are reaching for?”

• karenmc55: “A Croton for Croton with no shame or guilt.”

• Croton12: “Let’s face it. With a radical leftist single party Village Board, much like the government in Washington, the dreams of making Croton into another Yonkers, Ossining or Peekskill will come true. Greedy property owners see the gold mine in ‘affordable housing’ and staunch activists see an increased power base. Unless there is a successful legal challenge to the ruination of the Village before the majority on the board can be changed, its just time to move.”

• jennifer: “The crime was more insidious. It started out as minor annoying quality of life issues: a domestic dispute here, too many bored adolescent boys hanging out there, noise and broken beer bottles. Then it escalated into burglaries and shoplifting. The small—by city standards—grammar school required a major expansion. A towering hulk of a concrete monstrosity to accommodate a surge in students became necessary.”

• sensible1: “The residents, taxpayers and people with kids in the Croton schools are mad as hell and are not going to sit idle on this one either!”

• wileyp86: “I want to thank you all so much for the very good info being provided. We are new in town, arrived not in time to be able to vote, but had we known this was going on, we might have thought twice. We are nons, came here for the schools, and are appalled that this is being considered here. We came here because it is a village not for the crowds, and for the schools. We are very disappointed and annoyed and you will be hearing from us if this is done.”

• commonsense: With more students, and housing, comes the need for more of everything, more teachers, more room, more desks, books, labs, fields, more police, more garbage trucks, more more more more. Why on earth would we encourage that with a zoning change?

• Paula Pradines: “Crotonites need to be critical thinkers and not emotional sponges when it comes to affordable housing. We all moved here to live our American Dream. This dream for many has already ended as more and more Croton seniors and lower and middle income families are taxed out of their homes. You know why your neighbors have left. Just ask the hundreds of thousands of Long Islanders who leave each year because their charming villages and lovely vistas were replaced with a kind of extended Brooklyn and Queens full of dense housing and unsustainable school and property taxes.”

Reader’s note: More racist ramblings from the North County News are available here: http://www.ncnlocal.com/bb/viewforum.php?f=1

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Miss Goodie Two Shoes

June 20, 2009

“Hopeful, these forums are provided to all communities via the graciousness of the North County News.

You are once again asked to stay on the topic of this forum which is the agenda for the work session on Monday and which is still not online.

As to the rest of your comments, in this country, last time I checked, it is the right of every citizen to engage in discussion on issues that may affect their community. If you cannot see that Mr. Murray’s remarks are and were inappropriate, especially since I have no idea what he is talking about, then there is little more I can say to you.

I suggest you save your energy for the upcoming meetings on this issue. Given the backlash I am seeing against this DENSITY housing proposal, you will need it.

As for me, I am off to photograph more of the village’s wonderful HOUSES for an upcoming slideshow.”

— maria (Maria Cudequest, search) Sat Jun 20, 2009 8:19 am NCN

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Bruce Apar's Baby

In 2007, North County News Editor in Chief + Publisher Bruce Apar, started a forum, aka the NCN.

At first, Mr. Apar boastfully attacked Crotonblog for allowing anonymous commentary but now he embraces it entirely (See: Bruce Apar’s Ethical Double Standard (and Goof))

In fact, Croton’s most notorious and ugliest mud-slingers have made it their home-away-from-home.

To illustrate, here’s a sample exchange between convicted vandal maria and citizen-volunteer Kieran Murray (KM) from June 18:

KM:

Maria:

I am getting really sick and tired hearing about you shooting your mouth off about me at Gabe’s. My kids friends parents hear your nonsense and I am really getting tired of it. SHUT YOUR MOUTH ABOUT ME!

maria:

Kieran:

First, I have no idea what you are talking about. My focus has been, if you have not gathered by now, promoting our village, churches, artistic and business community. It occupies a great deal of my time, joyfully. I have not attended any of the Harmon meetings although, as is my right to do so, I have certainly contributed to the many conversations about the housing project that have occurred—especially since the Gazette’s coverage of the 6/11 meeting. My commentary has been measured, deliberate, and fact-based.

The rules of this board are clear. As you have just violated them by threatening me in a public forum, I will bring them to the attention of the moderator on Monday.

In the meantime, the topic of this forum is the work session on Monday and whether or not anyone knows the agenda since it was not online. Please at least follow that one.

Thank you.

KM:

Tell the moderator all you want, just don’t talk bad about me in public where my kids friends parents can hear.

The North County News needs to be careful not to continue to expose itself to possible litigation. In my opinion, it is knowingly letting personal attacks, slander, lies, rumor and innuendo stand as fact. By knowingly providing a platform for damaging character assasinations to continue, it is acting no differently than Got Dirt, MySpace, Craigslist and any other site responsible for providing adequate monitoring and ignoring its responsibility.

Make sure you tell the moderator that as well!

One more from June 19 between one “commonsense” and Kieran Murray:

commonsense:

Kieran, PLEASE stop with the children, already. As to whether you would want to help or not, that is absolutely up to you. But you should be looking at it more as helping your village, not just any of us.

KM:

So you think it is OK that my children are being affected? Is that what you are saying?

You know you said I know who you are a while back, I think it is time to meet face to face. I’ve had enough of you knowing who I am and me not knowing the face behind the attacks.

Put up or shut up Commonsense.

commonsense:

Attacks?

Oh, I see an attack, alright, and it ain’t coming from me.

Your statements on your positions are posted exactly as you made them. They are self-explanatory, but if you don’t agree, then perhaps you can explain why you feel they’re not contradictory.

And there’s no need for you to act like a bully.

And if you’re out there, Mr. Apar… They’re talking about you.

Oh, and by the way, since you have done such a good job at tarnishing your paper’s brand by letting Croton’s-worst dominate your message board, there’s an active boycott of buying the North County News on Croton newsstands.

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Sage Advice from NCN Forum's Truth Hurts

April 28, 2009

“Jane:

Don’t let this pack of angry wolves get to you. They are pissed they lost the election and are looking for any excuse to bash the new administration.

Pettit’s paying job with the rec department didnt get cut and it is a strange conflict of interest for him to be on a committee whose recommendations could impact his own job. It’s a conflict of interest and it was the right move on the part of the new board.

Streany had his time on the RAC and its good to rotate people on and off committees to get a fresh perspective.

Responding to this crew is like leaving the heat on when all the windows are open, a needless and pointless waste of energy!”

This in response to the latest flurry from the angry squawkers over at the NCN Forum. Here’s a sample of their work:

jayoncroton: I strongly urge the posters and readers of this forum, some of whom voted for the new board, to ignore this boy. Instead, we are organizing phone calls to the press to bring this matter to their attention in a calm methodical manner in the hopes that more press will shed a light on this disturbing turn of events.
You can contact the papers by email at
http://www.ncnlocal.com/ncn_gotnews.asp
for the North County News
and for the Journal News
at 946-3600

Judith A.: “I am so sickened by this event. To think that Leo (I REFUSE to call him “mayor”) did this is appalling. Gary Petit is a fixture in Croton—-along with his wife Doreen. The two of them did more for this recreation department than anyone.

I will gladly sign any petition to get Jane Murtaugh (gee——the wife of the new TRUSTEE????!!!!) off this committee and get Gary back.

What a crock of “you know what”. All you Democrats should be ashamed of yourselves.”

jayoncroton: “No Jane there is not a parallel here.

Murtaugh

your name is MURTAUGH.

Mr. Waldman retired
Mr. Herbek retired

They were not fired.

Want copies of their retirement speeches? Look at the village website.

I have HEARD NO SUCH SPEECHES FROM STREANY OR PETTIT

No there is no parallell here Jane. Again, enough. Again I will happilly get signatures.

You said right here you wanted to be on the committee and ta-da, two seats open up, replacing two long standing contributors with vast experience in this area.

Discussion ended for my part. Again I will happilly get signatures.”

More here: GARY PETIT WAS REMOVED FROM THE RECREATION COMMITTEE

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Dear PVC Middle School Bullies, Please Read This

April 25, 2009

Two Little Boys by Charles M. Blow on April 24, 2009

On April 6, just before dinner, Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, a Massachusetts boy who had endured relentless homophobic taunts at school, wrapped an extension cord around his tiny neck and hanged himself. He was only 11 years old. His mother had to cut him down.

On April 16, just after school, Jaheem Herrera, a Georgia boy who had also endured relentless homophobic taunts at school, wrapped a fabric belt around his tiny neck and hanged himself as well. He too was only 11 years old. His 10-year-old sister found him.

Two beaming little boys, lost. To intolerance? Too tragic. More.

This is article is in response to the following letter sent to Pierre Van Cortlandt Middle School parents on April 23, 2009:

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Dear PVC Parents:

On Tuesday, April 21st, 2009 a group of 8th grade boys engaged in a violent act aimed at another student. This group of boys restrained the student in question and assaulted him. As a result, the school has deemed it necessary to suspend those directly involved with this incident.

Due to the severity of the matter, the Croton Police are now conducting their own investigation. While this is an isolated case, I want to assure you that the school is taking all necessary measures to insure your child’s safety.

Please note that false rumors have been circulating that have further exacerbated this situation for the victim. We request that all members of our community be supportive and sensitive to this.

We hope this matter is resolved as soon as possible. We also want to express how proud we are of those students who came forward in support of the student who was harmed. It takes great courage to step forward under such circumstances.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to call me at 914-271-2191.

Sincerely,

Barbara Ulm, Ed.D., PVC Principal

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Croton GOP Slams LoHud: "Endorsements are for those who don't want to do any homework!"

March 16, 2009

In their final throes, desperate Schmidt loyalists have again switched tactics in their war on Leoism.

Like suicide bombers, they have resorted to soiling their own nest by enthusiastically spamming every topic in the NCN forum with the same message over and over again. That message: a cherry-picked version of the 2009 political endorsement by The Journal News editorial board.

But as they sometimes say in the publishing world: Stop the presses!

In 2008, Robert Wintermeier wrote the following in response to last year’s endorsement…which did not go the Republican way:

“For the 15 years that I’ve been involved in local politics, I don’t believe more than a handful of Croton Republican Committee candidates received the endorsement of the Journal News and still won! In addition, I don’t recall their endorsement showing up in any of our literature in the rare instances when they supported our candidates.

Personally, I don’t believe a media endorsement is as meaningful as meeting the candidates face to face, knowing their political philosophy and doing lots of research. Endorsements are for those who don’t want to do any homework!

As I’ve stated publically, I have voted for several local and national Democrats (I loved Zell Miller and would have voted for Lloyd Bentsen if he had run for President) whose political philosophy most closely reflects my own. You need to be a fool to blindly accept a media endorsement or to continually vote for a party candidate that doesn’t reflect your own beliefs and standards!”

PS. The NCN goons further qualify this year’s endorsement by labeling the paper, owned by media conglomerate Gannett, as being liberal. So…Karl Rove.

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Pedestrians Cross at Own Risk in Schmidt's Croton

March 14, 2009

At the dangerous intersection on South Riverside Avenue and Maple Street in Mayor Schmidt’s Croton, drivers are permitted to illegally park their vehicles over the sidewalk at the strip mall next to the Croton Colonial Diner. And when vehicles are parked there, passers-by are forced to move into harm’s way.

Worse, a close examination of the satellite map reveals that there is no safe alternate route for pedestrians when their right-of-way is obstructed by law-breaking drivers.

Why is it that in Croton, the laws meant to protect Crotonites are ignored by the mayor?

PS. This ain’t the first time Crotonblog has expressed its concern for public safety in this parking area. To see what we mean, read “Why Is Croton So Selectively Enforcing Its Laws, Mr. Mayor?,” published on July 8, 2007 and “The Disaster at the Intersection of Routes 9A and 129 in Croton,” from June 26, 2007.

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Not Enough Ado about Poo 'round Town

March 11, 2009

When an editor at Crotonblog nearly stepped in an enormous pile of dog excrement last Saturday, March 7, in front of the now-shuttered Italian restaurant on South Riverside Avenue, we realized that tutto wasn’t so bene. So we made a mental note of its presence. Imagine our surprise to discover this morning that the indelicate pile has been an impediment to pedestrian progress for five days now. Unlucky pedestrians have stepped in it and have our sympathies. Portions of this dung pile have gotten a foothold and have been carried all over Croton.

March 7, 2009, Day 1

Must have been a St. Bernard—or a horse.

March 11, 2009, Day 5

Not exactly footprints in the sands of time.

We know that it’s the responsibility of dog owners to clean up after their animals. We know that it’s the responsibility of property owners to keep their sidewalks safe, clean and free of debris. We also know that except for the fire and police departments, Village government shuts down over the weekend. And when a property owner fails to comply, come Monday, that’s when the village’s code enforcement officer is supposed to take action to deter a repeat offense. Under Mayor Schmidt’s management, that does not happen.

In Mayor Schmidt’s Croton, nothing is ever done to make the Village look clean and tidy even though there are vacant stores everywhere. A do-nothing mayor presides over a village that in highly trafficked places looks shabby, unkempt and neglected. Yes, we said neglected. The mayor, a notorious hot-head, neglects to protect residents from irresponsible landlords by failing to direct Croton’s highly-paid village manager to enforce its ordinances.

The dumpy appearance of Croton decreases our property values. Then, taxes go up as the value of our homes go down. Next, services are cut to give the appearance of keeping taxes low. And where ever he can, Shifty-Schmidty imposes increasing fees on every kind of Crotonite activity. Yet his lax government ignores the opportunity to gain revenue from fines resulting from code violations.

P.S. An editor of Crotonblog was stalked by two self-appointed guardians of the public weal (definition) in an automobile with NY license plate DVE-9771 who was reporting over a cell phone on our presence and interest in the excrement. Both are members of the Croton fire department.

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