New City Library Vote

On Wednesday December 11, 2013 there will be a public vote at the New City Library to elect three new board members.  The voting hours will be from 9AM to 9 PM.  During the same time frame there will also be a public vote to approve the 2014 library budget which is calling for a zero percent increase.  Although the budget vote is also in the library, it will be on a different ballot and in a different room.  In effect, you will be voting twice in the New City Library on that day.

It is the Clarkstown Preservation Society's position that the New City Library is probably one of the best taxpayer funded institutions in Rockland County.  The current board-majority has ensured that the services that we enjoy are provided at a high level with reasonable cost to the residents that pay for them.  As stated earlier, the upcoming budget will have a zero percent tax increase and the 2013 budget included a minimal 1.6 percent tax increase.  Relatively speaking, when compared to other agencies and jurisdictions in Clarkstown and Rockland, this should be a template for others to try to learn from!

How do we continue this positive trend?  We have vetted three candidates that we feel are deserving to serve in the position of Library Board Member.  These qualified and highly principled candidates are Agin Anthony, Suresh Arya and Ralph Sabatini.  With these three candidates elected, the library board will still maintain its majority voting power to ensure that operating costs remain stable and the Library Chairman, Mitch Freedman can conduct his management strategies in the most professional and non-political manner possible.  This will serve to maintain the highest standards that have been set forth by the New City Library.

In closing, it is important to remember that every local election is a critical one in order to sustain our viability as a town.  The New City Library's operating budget is a little over $5 million per annum.  We need to make sure that everyone understands how important it is that election voting becomes a matter of routine for Clarkstown voters.  On December 11,2013 please make sure that everyone gets out and votes for Agin Anthony, Suresh Arya and Ralph Sabatini for Library Board.  Of course, please also remember to vote "yes" for the 2014 budget of zero percent increase.

NOTE:  To be eligible to vote, you must be a NYS registered voter residing in Congers, New City,  Bardonia and parts of Nanuet.  If you are unsure if you qualify, please call the New City Library at (845)634-4997.  Every vote will count, so find out if you are eligible.  Also, if you go to vote and they tell you that they don't have you on their rolls, tell them that you wish to fill out a provisional election ballot.  This happened to several eligible people last year.  If you do fill out a provisional ballot, please email me so that I can make sure that the election officials follow up and investigate further.  Thank you for executing your sacred right to vote.

Pete Bradley

Clarkstown Preservation Society- Preserve Rockland/ Clarkstown Chief

(914)772-1244

pmbradley1@yahoo.com