Health & Fitness
Earning Your Vote
After months of campaigning, tens of thousands of door knocks and phone calls, countless mailers, and television and radio commercials saturating the airwaves, the campaign to be the next Rockland County Executive is coming to a close.
When I announced my candidacy outside my family's small business in Spring Valley, I did so because I saw a county in crisis. After 20 years of Republican control of county government, I believed then, as I do now, that we cannot afford four more. With a $128 million deficit (then just under $100 million), the lowest credit rating in New York, and a struggling economy, Rockland County is desperate for change.
For too long, Rockland County has been suffering not just a deficit of money, but a deficit of ideas – a void in the public dialogue. It is my sincere hope that my candidacy has improved the debate, added to the dialogue. Many of my proposals have received widespread support:
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Shrink the Size of the Legislature: Westchester has 17 county legislators; Rockland has 17 legislators. Westchester has a population of about 950,000; Rockland has a population of about 315,000. What's wrong with this picture? With non-partisan redistricting, we can shrink the size of legislature AND improve representation, all while saving taxpayers money. It's an idea so good, my Republican opponent Ed Day said, "Kudos to Mr. Fried for his independent thinking on this issue." I will put the question to the voters in a public referendum – as the great New York Governor Al Smith said, "All the ills of democracy can be cured by more democracy."
Cutting the Salaries: Unlike my opponent, I wasn't in the County Legislature when they voted to give Scott Vanderhoef a 12.5% pay raise – I would've voted 'NO'. When I'm County Executive, I will cut my own salary at least 20%. All other appointed positions will see salary reductions too. It's time for government to lead by example. I was glad to see that Ed Day came out in favor of 10% pay cut, but I don't think that's enough. Instead of firing civil service workers and raising taxes for a pay raise for the County Executive, we need management to do more with less. My plan for smart government is one of the reasons why the Civil Service Employees Union supports my campaign.
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Create Efficiencies: For too long, Rockland has become top-heavy, with an over reliance on upper and middle management positions. When I'm County Executive, my administration will audit all jobs for necessity, consolidating positions where possible, as well as review all county contracts. The county has abundance of unnecessary contracts with outside consultants. We don't need to spend money to be told how to do what other counties have figured out themselves.
Rockland County Water District: After touring the desalination pilot plant, meeting with United Water and environmental activists, there was only one conclusion for me: I oppose the desalination plant. Unlike my opponent, I'm not going to parse my position with caveats and conditions under which I'd support it. When I'm County Executive, I will work with my colleagues in government who represent Rockland in the State Legislature to create a Rockland County Water District. This will give Rockland residents a greater voice in the destiny of our natural resources – we won't need to apply for "special status" anymore.
Smart Development: Overdevelopment is a problem that plagues Rockland County, often with significant environmental impacts – Mother Nature doesn't know about and doesn't care about municipal borders; flood waters don't know where one town ends and another town begins. It's why I oppose irresponsible developments like Patrick Farm; it's why as a Ramapo voter, I voted 'NO' on building the ballpark. Instead, we need smart, sustainable development. As County Executive, I will work with my colleagues in government, along with business leaders, to utilize existing infrastructure to turn vacant lots and buildings into engines of economic opportunity. We need more projects like Clarkstown's Shops at Nanuet and Orangetown's Bloomberg Data Center. It's just part of the reason why the Sierra Club has endorsed my candidacy.
Improving Transportation: Public transportation is a great equalizer. Ride a train in New York City and you'll see people of all walks of life, all lots of life, and sitting next to each other. The lawyer who makes $500 an hour is sitting next to the laborer who makes $500 a week. Here in Rockland, while we pay into the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), we get nowhere near our fair share. On this, Ed Day and I are in full agreement; where we disagree, is how accomplish the change we need. Ed's plan is fear, to threaten the MTA with Rockland leaving the organization; my plan is to join with my colleagues in government, particularly the County Executive's in Orange, Putnam, and Dutchess who share a full MTA vote with Rockland, to amplify our voice. Collectively, our voice is stronger. I will work directly with our state and federal officials to get the Trans Hudson Express Tunnel, part of the Access to Region's Core plan, back on track (pun intended), giving the thousands of Rockland residents who use the five different train stations in Rockland a one-seat ride into New York City.
Many of the problems plaguing Rockland require action and/or cooperation from Albany and Washington. It's critical the next County Executive have positive working relationships with our state and federal legislative delegations. I'm proud to have the support of people like Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Congresswoman Nita Lowey, State Senator David Carlucci, and Members of the Assembly Ellen Jaffee, Ken Zebrowski, and James Skoufis. My experience working with the state and federal government will give me the tools necessary to turn Rockland around.
This campaign has been heated at times, and unfortunately, that charged rhetoric is distracting us from the issues. Rockland County faces significant challenges. Yet, as I've traveled across the county and talked with voters from all walks of life, I believe that our capacity to meet those challenges is limitless. Throughout the campaign, I've endeavored to improve the quality of the public debate here in Rockland. I hope I've earned your support.
