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Gun Control And Funding Issues Up For Vote

Rockland legislators take up resolutions to help county with financial difficulties and that deal with gun control matters

 

The Rockland County Legislature is scheduled to vote Tuesday night on approving $45 million of Revenue Anticipation Notes and $55 million of Tax Anticipation Notes. Its members will vote on asking for Home Rule Legislation from the state to allow it to extend the 3/8 of one percent and 5/8 of one percent sales and compensating use tax until 2015 and to issue a $96 million deficit bond.

One of the several gun control resolutions approved by legislative committees last week and on the agenda has come under criticism from Legislator Ed Day along with the state’s newly imposed gun control law. 

In a prepared statement, Day said steps are needed “to correct the overreaches and irregularities in Governor Cuomo’s gun bill.”

“As a retired member of the law enforcement community, I have been disheartened by much of the content of the new overly broad and restrictive gun legislation passed in haste by the State,” said Day.  “As such, and based on the recommendations of several law enforcement organizations, I am proud to have written and co-sponsored, along with Legislators Carey and Hood, a resolution calling for active and retired law enforcement exemptions from magazine capacity restrictions and ammunition purchase restrictions, along with a more clearly defined definition of assault weapons (such that legal gun owners and hunters are not impacted), and full local agency review of school safety plans, as opposed to the state agency now proposed.”

Day also spoke about the resolution calling for a reinstatement on assault weapons and detailed his opposition.

“As to the resolution at hand, many points brought forward, such as calling for increased funding for school resource officers and mental health services, or extending the prohibition on gun purchases to violent juvenile offenders, are entirely valid,” Day said, “That said, though I will be out of the country on Tuesday, I feel it is important that it be on record that I simply cannot support a resolution calling for a reinstatement of an assault weapons ban that has been opposed by the Sheriff’s Association, amongst other law enforcement groups, for being too broad and completely ineffective in reducing violent crime when it was in effect.” 

Day stated his committee vote was to move the resolution for debate, not for its passage.

The legislature meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday night.

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Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Kathleen May 21, 2013 at 08:55 am
CANDLE Night at the Rockland Boulders Game Join CANDLE for a fun(d)raising game on May 23rd as theRead More Rockland Boulders take on the Trois-Rivieres Aigles. Proceeds from tickets purchased through CANDLE* will support programs that educate & empower youth and reduce substance abuse and violence in Rockland County and beyond.
Heywood Jablohme May 21, 2013 at 02:48 pm
I agree with most of your points, but surely you are not implying that teachers are expected toRead More produce funding to correct school roofs, right? I think you got a bit off topic here, but I agree that our educational infrastructure is in disrepair and is in desperate need of rehabilitation. Maybe if our teacher's unions allowed a little more leeway we could allocate funding a little more appropriately and fund the important things instead of overpaying paying dinosaur teachers who lost interest a long time ago and fight any and all forms of teacher benchmarking.
WGMom May 20, 2013 at 09:10 am
It's entirely true that every professional has out-of-pocket expenses. But as someone who worked asRead More a corporate trainer, I can guarantee you I NEVER had to pay out of pocket expenses for supplies to teach classes. Every piece of paper, supply, and even snacks for the participants were fully covered expenses. If I had to spend out of pocket money to procure supplies, I could submit for a reimbursement, and receive it, no questions asked. I am now in school to become a high school teacher and I can see the stark difference in how the education of folks in a corporate environment is incredibly different, and privileged, than the public school environment. I've sat through numerous classes in the Clarkstown and Ramapo districts, doing observations required for my education certification, and while Clarkstown certainly benefits from certain advantages, the shabbiness of being a public school is still there. Furniture, such as teacher desks, that looks like it was purchased in a garage sale 30 years ago... faculty bathrooms that are dark and dingy, nearly crumbling, and sorely in need of updating. Etc. The public expects teachers to have professional training, act professionally, but they lack sometimes basic resources and are expected to function in an environment that feels more like a dungeon than an institution of learning. The citizens of Clarkstown, if they could get a tour of some of the facilities they are expecting children to learn in, and teachers to teach in, would be very surprised. We do supply some great technology, but then we put it in classrooms with windows that won't stay closed when it's windy, as one example. I spent most of my time in South, which is the best of the bunch, facilities-wise. Clarkstown North is a mess, Woodglen's woods are littered with fallen trees no one's cleaned up after Sandy, Laurel Plains had to be shuttered thanks to that whole foul stench... the district is in a situation where there are major capital improvements that are going to be needed. Buildings are aging, and it seems it's only the most basic of upkeep that happens. The district can't even fix the roofs of the buildings without applying for a state grant.
Heywood Jablohme May 18, 2013 at 07:17 am
What professional doesn't spend $500 per year on out of pocket expenses related to their jobs?Read More Staples offering 10% (or 5 in some cases) is hardly an example of the community getting involved. Thankfully, there are other examples of the community and PTA's getting involved and providing needed services. Clarkstown and surrounding areas hardly have substantial unmet needs in their classroom, thankfully.
Truth4all May 16, 2013 at 11:37 am
I guess better late than never. LaCorte is serving his 4th year as Mayor and was Trustee for I thinkRead More 4 years before that. This year is the only time he has brought the idea to the village about participating in this program. He is motivated by the opportunity of getting positive press for his County Executive campaign. The village should have been involved in this program ( as well as the Americorps program) long before this. On a positive note, hopefully the Village will continue this worthwhile partnership for many years to come.