Kaplowitz set to move up - perhaps to Albany?
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- November
- 27
Westchester Legislator Michael Kaplowitz, a Somers Democrat, will have a new role in the legislature when the session begins in January – vice chairman.
Kaplowitz, who currently chairs the Board of Legislators’ powerful Budget and Appropriations Committee, will take over the post being vacated by Clinton Young, the mayor-elect of Mount Vernon.
The selection of Kaplowitz as vice chairman was made during a caucus of Democratic legislators Monday night. The Democrats also decided, as expected, to re-elect Legislator Bill Ryan as board chairman and Legislator Martin Rogowsky as the majority leader. Legislator Judy Myers was voted to the post of majority whip.
Republicans are sticking with Legislator George Oros as minority leader. Legislator Jim Maisano of New Rochelle will serve as minority whip.
The new post for Kaplowitz, however, may just be temporary. The buzz in the legislature this week has Kaplowitz challenging Assemblyman Greg Ball, a Republican, next fall.
Kaplowitz, who lost a bid to unseat state Sen. Vincent Leibell in 2006, sidestepped questions today about his political future, saying he wanted to get through the county’s ongoing budget process before making any decisions.
“Everything is on the table,” Kaplowitz added.
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, November 27th, 2007 at 6:50 pm by Glenn Blain.
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if he runs, ball will not win reelection
again next year
he has warred with too many over the wrong things
many in his own party who will turn against him
and the democrats will try hard to remove ball
because he is a loud mouth
voters say they no longer trust him because he promises
so much and delivers so little
he is being compared with vinnie leibell who promises
so much and delivers so much
i predict that ball will have a stong democrat like kaplowitz
running and a primary challenge
should sell some papers
Proff I hope you’re right. I’m a registered conservative and I was dissatisfied with Ball & Harper both in the last election. I was going to write in Donald Duck but the last minute court battles left Will Stephens on the ballot and so my (protest) vote went to him.
I would never vote for Ball, I knew he was an opportunist ever since I first read about his arrogant antics in the local paper. Everything is a game to this guy, just as an example of his nonsense, he was heard on News 12 recently saying something to the effect: “As a Republican, I would like to see legislation that has a pro-life component to it but as a compromise we might be able to move forward without that.�
How about this Greg? “As someone who respects life you would like to see legislation put forward that always represents that respect and that you would never use abortion as a political football, or something that can be compromised into allowance.”
But, no, you clearly don’t care about the issue and it shows. You were rude to members of the pro-life community who visited you in your Albany office, rushing them out after only 5 minutes. What was that about? Did you not want be seen with them???
You probably don’t care about all of the issues you talk about – you read the polls and parrot what a majority of the voters believe.
I’d rather have a principled liberal extremist as my Assemblyman than someone who changes with the wind.
Mike Kaplowitz is a fine man and would do a great job as an Assemblyman in the 99th District. I encourage him to run and he will be surprised at the strong support he will get from Conservatives and Republicans who can not tolerate Greg Ball’s phony act. Greg Ball is known for rallies and demonstrations and batting 0% on legislation that he has submitted. Ball has not had any of his personal introduced legislation signed into law. That is a big fat ZERO. In any other job he would have been fired already.
I am one Republican who is behind Mike Kaplowitz for Assembly.
Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Majority Leader, Majority Whip, Minority Chairman, Minority Whip, and on and on. How many legislators are there up in White Plains, six-hundred? Now that Kaplowitz chairs Budget and Appropriations, he’d like to spend every nickel that’s in there and tax to get more before moving on to Albany to do the same.
The answer is 17 legislators and Mike Kaplowitz is one of the finest legislators Westchester has. Mr. Kaplowitz will prove to be a much better Assemblyman then Greg Ball. The district would be served well with Senator Leibell being in the majority party in the NYS Senate and Assemblyman candidate Mike Kaplowitz as a member of the majority party in the NYS Assembly. The district would have power brokers in both the Senate and the Assembly and the district would benefit.
I look forward to Assembly candidate Mike Kaplowitz serving as our next Assemblyman.
Ball is doing a great job and the liberal whining on this blog proves it everytime.
Harriet Myers is not a member of the US Supreme Court. Judy Myers is a member of the Westchester County Board of Legislators
Hey Jacob, quit your whining. I’m in no ways a liberal, but Greg Ball might be inclined to vote that way from time to time if the polls look good on an issue.
The truth of the matter is that democrats, liberals, independendts, and yes, Jacob, even republicans and conservatives are all fed up with Greg Ball.
I would still like to see a conservative republican primary Ball but I could support Kaplowitz. Like I said, I’d rather have a principled liberal extrenmist than someone who changes with the wind. And Mike Kaplowitz is very far from a liberal extremist, he’s actually a fiscal conservative, something that cannot be said about Ball.
You’re not even trying. Ball has a 84% rating from the Conservative Party, he’s tied with serveral others for 2nd place in the Assembly and that’s based on his voting record.
Ball’s ability to get legislation passed that HE sponsored (not voted yes on or co-sponsored) is 0%. Greg Ball has no ability to move his legislation in Albany, he campaigned on lowering school taxes and he has done nothing, he campaigned on removing illegal immigrants from Brewster and he has done nothing. Ball holds demonstration and rallies and gathers PR for himself, but at the end of the day Ball does nothing.
Candidate for Assembly Mike Kaplowitz has a proven record of being a strong legislator in Westchester County. Greg Ball will have a hard time fighting off a candidate like Mike Kaplowitz who will be well funded by the Democrats in Albany, Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess County. I would not be surprised if some Republican and Conservative money ended up in Kaplowitz’s lap. Ball has made enemies everywhere he goes, he threatens people and if you don’t agree with him you are automatically moved to his enemy list.
Let’s start early and support Mike Kaplowitz for NYS Assembly, he is the right man for the job.
I wish Will Stevens would make a comeback. He was an excellent Assemblyman that had friends on both sides of the aisle and was able to get things done as a member of the minority. Despite all of Ball’s PR and rallies, his record is a joke compared to that of Stevens. I still cannot believe that the dopey Republican voters in that district bought into the lies and demagoguery of Ball and voted out Stevens.
Will has no fight left in him. He allowed Ball to wear him out and he waited to long to go on the offensive. Will showed that if you allow a lying bully like Ball to create stories and make false promises that it is almost impossible to respond. Ball now has a record and his inability to get things done are evident, there will be no more false promises, Ball has to answer for all his previous promises. Ball will be defeated soundly based on his lack of accomplishments.
Ball is a one term Assemblyman.
Mike Kaplowitz hit a wall when he ran against Leibell. Leibell’s district has a larger % of democrats than Ball’s. Ball has a solidly Republican district and he polls over 85% among republicans and conservatives, takes 2/3 rds of unaffiliateds and indep, and takes 1/5 of democrats.
If Kaplowitz thought Leibell was a brick wall, he is in for a real surprise if he decides to take Ball.
Greg Ball has done exactly what he said he would do. Yes, he is upsetting the machine, but the people love him!
He has co sponsored and supported dozens of pieces of legislation in Albany that has passed.
But we didn’t send him to Albany to pass tax increases and more government regulaitons.
Ball is Fighting Against Skyrocketing Taxes! Delivering Against Illegal Immigration! Standing Up for Reform in Albany!
That’s why we sent him! That is why he will win again. That is why I can’t wait to watch Kaplowitz lose again..and if he loses again, and he will, he is done politically.
Plus, he doesn’t look too healthy these days..whats up with that?
Someone wrote that Balls district is ‘solidly’ republican…however in many town, democrates were elected to boards for the first time in years.
People want and expect results and Ball is all talk, saying what people want to hear but not really doing what people want. Ball is out for Ball and has expectations to move on and up rapidly. Getting attention he is best at and people believe he is doing something.
Anyone with a fast track agenda can be a scary person to represent us overtaxed people.
chool bus driver said “He has co sponsored and supported dozens of pieces of legislation in Albany that has passed.
But we didn’t send him to Albany to pass tax increases and more government regulaitons.
Ball is Fighting Against Skyrocketing Taxes! Delivering Against Illegal Immigration! Standing Up for Reform in Albany!�
I challenge you to name one piece of legislation that Greg Ball submitted (sponsored by him) that was passed into law.
Where is Ball fighting against taxes? Ball told the residents of Putnam that he was going to Albany and he was going to resolve state mandates that would have helped stop our tax increase on the county level. Ball again made a promise and did not deliver. Ball is dead politically.
Those polloing numbers you make reference to are garbage and made up, no one polls with those numbers. I remember Greg Ball standing up and saying “I stand with Governor Spitzer and his agenda in NYS� I wonder if Greg and the Governor’s numbers are the same.
Speaking of polling numbers, did those polling numbers come from the Assemblyman’s Greg Ball’s computer that the Feds conficated with campaign information on it.
Ball is a big failure and will lose to anyone who runs against him. He will lose in a primary and he will lose in a general election.
Ball’s campaign theme was “Keep the Ball rolling�, I think the Ball is still rolling, but now it is rolling backwards.
All of this talk is comical. Kaplowitz doesn’t even win his hometown. He is a tax and spend phoney. Ball will destroy him north of Westchester and I suppose even take him to task in Westch. Ball is in his twenties, works 20 hours a day, constantly fundraises and never takes anything for granted.
You have to remember, in 2006 BALL HAD ONE LINE. ONE. And the incumbent was still on the ballot. Ball one a threeway with a solid majority. Nobody thought it was possible. In the worst year ever Ball posted solid numbers on one line when Republicans all around him were dying.
Ball is everywhere. Alot of politico’s do nothing..but ball isn’t one of them. He takes tough stands and fights for the people. There is a reason why the old line politicians fear ball…It is because he is effective, he is increasing his power, he does have extremely loyal supporters and he is making huge inroads. Ball is around for the longterm, and the old line politico’s of the world are going to either work with ball, fold under pressure, or be defeated.
He has built a stronger organization in 2 years than it took Leibell to build in 10. Mark my words.
And Leibell did it to line his own pockets. Ball is doing it because he loves politics. That is a huge difference. He can’t be stopped, at least not by Kaplowitz.
The polling numbers were not taken off of an Assembly computer. That is a pathetic lie. The poll numbers were stolen from the Assemblyman’s private email account. Who directed him to break into the account? This story is currently being investigated. The putnam county political machine is on it’s last leg, and they left themselves wide open on this one.
Is it true that the Kent Town Center, built at the same time that Senator Leibell’s house was being built, has the same thermal heating as the home of Senator Leibell? Is it true some of the contractors were the same? Has the Journal News ever investigated this?
The Pundit is a liar – those polling numbers do not reflect anything near accurate, perhaps because they’re made-up.
4 rounds of real polling was does recently, not specifically on Ball, but his name was polled along with specific questions about his brand of politics, and the numbers, NOT EVEN IN 1 ROUND, came close to those posted by the Pundit…
Maybe this Westchester Politician will not be the choice candidate to run against Ball, but someone out there can do a better job. Lets wait and see who announces they want to run.
What Poll numbers were stolen? Was it Ball’s email or someone elses that Ball read? Never heard the whole story and would be interested to learn more. Anyonen know what this was all about?
http://www.nynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071011/NEWS04/710110352
That should it explain it. BTW noone has taken his place as Chair of the Croton-on-Hudson Republican Party.
I come from the political right on issues and do not live in that district. A choice between Ball & Kaplowitz would be difficult because while I think Kaplowitz is a better person and a more honorable politician than Ball (almost everyone is), Kaplowitz is still a fundamental liberal who has voted for every one of Andy Spano’s tax increases. Since the Dems took over county government in 1998, they have grown it to upsurdity. I hear Kaplowitz is a serious and conscientious guy, but he is no moderate Democrat. I would rather see a better Republican knock out that phoney Ball in a primary.
Greg Ball has nothing to worry about for his re-election. The 99th Assembly District is more Republican than the Senate district that Mike Kaplowitz lost on a reform movement against a 26 year Albany Crony Senator Leibell. If Kaplowitz can’t beat the biggest machinist in the Hudson Valley on a Reform ticket how can he beat the only guy in Albany fighting against the machine? What is he going to run on? I’m more for reforming Albany than Greg Ball? Give me a break, Kaplowitz is responsible for Westchester County being the highest taxed county in the nation, just wait and see what he could do with Albany. He will stand with Sheldon Silver and continue to protect the interests of the Albany insiders. Kaplowitz has no chance in the 99th and should really consider a job in the circus instead!
“Everything is on the table,” said Kaplowitz. Right. He’s not lying. Every dimwitted scheme to raise taxes and employ more county hangabouts and increase politicians’ take is on the table. And it’s not a table, it’s a stadium on stilts.
Ball is not an honorable man, see the following article.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/11/AR2007061102424.htm
Mike Kaplowitz is a well respected legislator who works hard for the people of his district.
Greg Ball has his staffers all over these websites posting about how great he is. Maybe the Feds should check the Assembly staffs computers for posting comments while on duty for the Assemblyman Ball.
school bus driver – if you ask around, people DO NOT love Ball as you state. Things have changed and many people that supported him on the first run have said they are not going to vote for him again.
Ball has his work cut out for him and he will be up in Albany for 6 months and that time will give someone else the opportunity to get out there and knock on doors. Like a replay what happened with Stephens and Ball last time.
This should be a very interesting race this coming year.
Ball has not had any legislation passed…that he had written for him. That would have been a big plus if he had.
Who can blame this guy for not getting legislation passed? He’s stuck with a large majority gaggle of liberal Democrats, led by a multi-millionaire leftist leader who refuse to listen to him or anyone else who has any logical and creative ideas. Thank god there is at least a VOICE up there in the Assembly that won’t be stifled by this bombastic band of bullies and big spenders. The Assembly Democrats won’t be satisfied until they drive-out every sensible voice and bankrupt the state. When that finally happens, they will all take their purloined millions and move to Florida or some other state with no income tax, leaving us to dig out.
Ed said, “Who can blame this guy for not getting legislation passed? He’s stuck with a large majority gaggle of liberal Democrats, led by a multi-millionaire leftist leader who refuse to listen to him or anyone else who has any logical and creative ideas.”.
Then one must ask themselves, how did Assemblyman Willis Stephens get his legislation passed? He got it passed by being reasonable and working with people.
Greg Ball is an ineffective legislator and we are paying the price for his antics.
To “get along” in that milieu as a Republican, you do the leader’s bidding, you stay in line, and you’re grudgingly tolerated. You do not do the people’s business; you do Silver’s business.
You get more bees with honey then vinegar. If there is a twisted system to get bills passed that is unfortunate, but one lone person is not going to change the system. Name calling and being outspoken accomplishes nothing except giving the illusion of doing something. Ball needs to work the system within its crazy operating procedures.
All we see are forums and fundraisers. That does not get anything done. Fundraisers and forums are for Balls long term goal of moving on up the latter and all the costs. Does anyone really believe that he plans on being a long term assemblyman? Ball wants his name up there with the big guys…..he wants power.
If he wants any power at all, he’ll have to run for the State Senate, not the Assembly. I like it that Silver gets a pin in the rear-end once in a while. That’s small satisfaction, but all a Republican can do up there. Even a Democrat who dares to speak up without Silver’s approval loses his perks and committees and anything else Silver can threaten him with. This is so well-known and unchangeable that it’s a waste of time to even re-hash.
Kaplowitz will have plenty of power as a Majority Assemblyman from our district. We get nothing now from the Assembly and what ever Mike Kaplowitz brings could bring back from the Assembly would be much more then Greg Ball. Kaplowitz clearly would serve our district better then Ball.
Ball has passed legislation. In fact, look on his official webpage. The guy has sponsored more legislation than any other freshman and co-sponsored more successful legislation than willis. You keep beating a dead horse. He not only speaks up, he is also a very hardworking legislator and it shows in his bills. As a minority member, you have to co-sponsor to pass, and the kid has co-sponsored like 300 pieces of legislation. That is more than nearly any other Republican member.
Also, not for nothing, but Ball has been going door to door all year..IN AN OF YEAR!
Kaplowitz is about to hit a brick wall and I can’t wait. Lose once you live to see another day. When he loses 60-40 to Ball, then he is done.
And by the way..Ball has posted impressive wins with one line..one. Next year he will have three.
A little nirdy suggests that Ball has about $150k in the bank as we speak. And raising more all the time..
And…Ball has passed legislation. In fact, look on his official webpage. The guy has sponsored more legislation than any other freshman and co-sponsored more successful legislation than willis. You keep beating a dead horse. He not only speaks up, he is also a very hardworking legislator and it shows in his bills. As a minority member, you have to co-sponsor to pass, and the kid has co-sponsored like 300 pieces of legislation. That is more than nearly any other Republican member.
Also, not for nothing, but Ball has been going door to door all year..IN AN OFF YEAR!
Kaplowitz is about to lose in a big way and I can’t wait. Lose once you live to see another day. When he loses 60-40 to Ball, then he is done.
And by the way..Ball has posted impressive wins with one line..one. Next year he will have three.
If anything, they should be LOSING more than a few new law proposals coming out of that Assembly. How many damned laws do we need? Moses brought back ten. TEN. That’s all God could come up with. This Assembly will not be content until they totally inundate the state with taxes and fees; and, like Spano, who fits right in, they go to bed at night and dream dreams of how to further bankrupt and handcuff us, the working proletariat.
Ball can place as much inaccurate information on his website as he wishes, when he runs next year the truth will be told. Ball has not had one piece of legislation passed that he himself has introduced, Ball is an ineffective Assemblyman. Ball has not come through on any of his promises of school tax relief for the resident in his district and he has done absolutely nothing about illegal immigration. Ball could never secure three lines next year, the truth be told, I hear he may be facing a formable opponent in a primary, he may not even be the republican candidate. The republicans want him out, he does nothing for his district or for the party, Ball is a divider. Ball will be a one term Assemblyman. I remember when Ball stood up on the Assembly floor and proudly stated, “I stand with Governor Spitzer�. Ball then went on and voted against the budget and went back to his district telling organizations how he helped secure funding for them. If you voted no on the budget then you voted no on funding to all organizations in your district. Ball can not have it both ways, if you vote yes on the budget then you can at least say I was part of bringing you back the funding. But when you vote no like Ball did, you have no right to say I brought you back A, B or C. Ball is the biggest phony in the NYS Assembly. Ball will not be able to hide in his next election, Ball will now be forced to answer many questions about his first two years in office. Does anyone know why he keeps losing staff members, I hear they are starting to talk. Lets wait and see what comes out in the laundry, Ball has already begun his damage control. But I think the problems he is facing will take up much of his time. As people really get to know Ball, they learn more about him that they do not like. Each and every day Ball loses more and more support. Of course Ball will continue to smile and walk around and shake hands and act like all is well, but Ball is fully aware that he is about to face an avalanche and he is going to get crushed. As far as Ball having $150,000. in the bank, I do not believe that, show me where in his financial report that it indicates that he has $150,000. Ball will get money from Rights who is going to destroy Southeast and Balls friends at Exceed have abandoned him already. Balls democratic opponent will be well funded to the tune of $500,000. if necessary to defeat him.
TNT-Your post was on the mark and spoke truthfully how many of the people are beginning to feel. Interesting about losing staff members. You stated they are starting to talk, can you post as to why they left and what they are saying? Would be very interesting to hear what was the problems working for the Assemblyman.
People are concerned as to the lack of actual doings by our assemblyman. They are seeing another side to this representative and many are not happy. Who ever comes forward to run, they will have to deal with lies and other devious tactics in a race.
2008 may be the end of Ball as assemblyman…but probably he will continue in other elections. People like him are driven for power.
What is sad is that alot of what is here is true. It will take more than $500k to defeat Ball. Much more. If Ball will have three lines there is no chance, and he won with only one line anyway. Kaplowitz is being used. People who have no interest in Mike are putting him up to run. If he were smart we would race the money necessary and run an actual campaign against Leibell. If anyone really does their research on the Putnam County community foundation, on the exchange of campaign cash, developer money, and NY State Senate money they would be able to torpedo Leibell. Times are changing and people want change and mike would just have to run a serious campaign..his last campaign was a joke.
In the end, it will be horrible to see Kaplowitz get absolutely destroyed by Ball, but Ball also represents change. My prediction if Mike decides to run against Ball is that he will not even win his own home town. And I am a dem.
It seems that there needs to be a VERY STRONG person to run against Ball. People may run the other way though as they do not want to deal with the tactics that Ball may possibly use against them.
Times certainly are changing and people want a representative that is good, decent and honest.
Demboy, you sound like one of Ball’s Brownies following his orders. All the BS you mentioned is simply intimidation tactics used by Ball and his people. Ball train may have run over Stephens, but that train has seen its last easy target. Ball’s tactics have been seen in Southeast and all are aware of his nastty, dirty little games. Kaplowitz is a nice man who will defeat Ball easily, Ball will not have three lines next year. He may end up losing in a primary.
Go Greg Ball!! Give ‘em hell!
The only politician around that cares!
Kaplowitz is a tax and spend liberal and a fake. His eyes practically pop out of his head everytime he speaks…
what a nasty politician…slime ball, thank God Vinny beat him..now Ball can put him to rest for good!
F. Nelson
You are right, Kaplowitz is not the right candidate, he is too weak. I live in Westchester and work in Putnam. Ball is solid in Putnam, from Dutchess (hometown) and is gaining serious ground in Yorktown where I live.
I was speaking with a former County legislative candidate who was hurt by Leibell and it looks like he is working hard for Ball. Well known guy and family. And my neighbors all know and like Ball. Some know and like Kaplowitz, but there is something about Ball, I think he will take even down here.
Plus, Kaplowitz just doesn’t look healthy. Have you seen him lately?
Matt N. is all over this blog, Matt is the henchman for Ball and his candidates. Ball is the leader and Matt is his number one brownie. Matt can not hide, I seen Matt running around in my town (Yorktown) with so the so called hurt legislative candidate. If you drink the Ball juice, you end up with a bad hangover.
By the way Kaplowitz is very healthy, he has taking to changing his eating habits and working out. You say a man does not look good because he has decided to care for his health? Kaplowitz looks great and I hear he feels great and may be looking forward to an upcoming race. I to live in Yorktown and my family and friends think Kaplowitz is a great candidate for office.
Read through all the posts on this Blog and it seems split on Balls re-election for 2008. From the many people I have spoken with in the Yorktown/Somers area, Ball is not a shoe in as some believe. It appears that Putnam County is his strongest area of supporters. Called some friends in the Dutchess area that he represents, Balls home town area, and people are not please with him. They repeatedly state that Balls says good things but has an attitude that they dislike. It was not surprising that his home town does not like him, that happens to many politicians. There does not seem to be any middle area as people either like or hate him.
Depending on how Ball does in the Assembly this next term will determine how many supporters he has going into the primary.
Again, lets hope for good candidates to come forward and run against Mr. Ball.
Home town does not like Ball? The hometown he won 2-1 with one line in the worst republican year ever? Oh yeah, and he is weak in Putnam? Where the guy is basically king…
Folks…maybe you can beat ballzo, but not with kappie
Hahah…the only people drinkin da juice are a bunch of insider wannabes stuck in no end positions postin on this blog!
Yer all losers!
The truth was spoken about Ball’s home town and the feeling of the voters there. They did like Ball when he first ran and they voted for him. But since then the voters have seen Ball for the arrogant individual he is, he has no respect for the party he says he is a member of, he has no respect for people that disagree with him and he no respect for the seat that he holds. Ball is on an ego trip that will take him. Yes, it is true that people in his hometown and Carmel are getting tired of his act.
Ball will definately have to do a push if he wants to get elected. As stated by other poster, he did get lots of votes in Nov 2006, but those same voters are not following him as they are very discouraged with Balls antics. People tell me he shows up at events and takes a picture opportunity then leaves. They feel he does not really care and only attends to give the appearance of being involved.
Is there someone out there that will be different????? Maybe they are all alike.
Sounds just like Ball, show up for a picture or a two minute speech and then he disappears, Ball is not sincere.
Ball will lose in his hometown if he runs again, they understand now he is a phony. If he were serious about representing the people he would never had ran Rights and neuringer for public office. They are both jokes and they are reflective of Balls bad judgement. Watch Rights in Southeast this year, you will feel sorry for those poor people in that Town. Fortunately Rights does not have the votes he need to get what he wants.
Why did Ball do the big push to get Mr. Rights elected? I read on another blog that Mr. Rights spent a lot of money for this election and went all out. Anyone know why Ball wanted Mr. Rights to win so badly? What does Ball have to gain by the win? Control of Southeast township? What is the big deal about Southeast, aside that it has a good school district and some lovely areas to reside in. Any ideas?