Politics on the Hudson

State Sen. Greg Ball, R-Patterson, will hold a “Storm Response Round Table” next week to talk about how the best storm and natural-disaster response can be provided “to our constituents and customers throughout the Hudson Valley Region.”

The gathering comes after the Hudson Valley suffered through a tropical storm and then an October nor’easter. Topics to be discussed, according to Ball, include:

•            Why do so many of our fellow neighbors lose electrical power in their homes and businesses during a natural disaster like a snow or rain storm?

•            What must be done to enable the homes and businesses in our region to retain electrical power during and after a natural disaster or storm?

•            How can we improve response times for service to constituents and customers from all government agencies and utility companies?

•            What can we learn from the October 30th Nor’easter and Hurricane Irene?

•            How can the local municipalities, utility companies, first responders and state officials work better together to ensure all residents are safe, and services are restored in a timely and efficient manner?

The round table will take place December 8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Yorktown Town Hall.

State Sen. Greg Ball, R-Patterson, released the following letter thanking those who helped with his Thanksgiving dinner for veterans.

Thank you letter for Veterans Dinner

Matt Alexander, the mayor of Wappingers Falls in Dutchess County, announced today he is seeking to unseat Rep. Nan Hayworth, R-Mount Kisco. In a statement, Alexander, a CPA, said he planned to speak throughout the 19th Congressional District about the issues he thinks are important. Below is part of his announcement speech.

“Today, through my leadership, I’m proud to say Wappingers Falls is one of the fastest-growing communities in our state with an astonishing 17% growth rate in the past year alone. New businesses and jobs are arriving, crime is down and our services and infrastructure are strong, AND we’ve held the line on property taxes.

This turn-around took determined leadership, an unwavering focus on economic development and jobs. It was the commitment of government to act in times of difficulty and put people to work rebuilding the infrastructure that was critical to our economic success.

It took getting people from both parties to stop playing games and to put people above politics and start working together. It took the faith of the men and women in government as our partners working to turn our community around. A community came together to recapture its future.

This approach not only revived our community, but twice earned me the endorsements of the Democratic and Republican parties.

This same formula that worked for Wappingers Falls is what I intend to bring to Congress. I got into government to take on big challenges because I was sick and tired of being on the sidelines. My leadership turned Wappinger Falls around and with your support I’d like to do the same here throughout New York’s 19th Congressional District.” Alexander said.

Alexander is the second Democrat to announce a challenge to Hayworth, who is in her first term. He joins Dr. Richard Becker, a Cortlandt Town Board member, in trying to unseat the congresswoman.

State Sen. Greg Ball, R-Patterson, took his anti-fracking message to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s backyard today. Ball stopped in Mount Kisco to say Cuomo should tour Pennsylvania to see how hydrofracking has “ravaged” those communities. He called on the governor to take steps to protect New Yorkers from such dangers and tried to build support for his Property Owners Bill of Rights,  which would set new standards for hydrofracking — the controversial process of extracting natural gas from rock — in New York’s Southern Tier.

“Maybe Governor Cuomo is focused on being President Cuomo and feels compelled to befriend this powerful industry, but all I know is that I went to Pennsylvania and I truly believe if the governor did the same, he would put the brakes on his fracking express, taking time to get it right. Whether it be Dick Cheney’s ‘Halliburton Loophole’ or Governor Cuomo’s most recent expediting of a process for the convenience of billionaire gas execs, at the highest of levels this gas industry has undue influence. New York State should be leading the charge to regulate this industry, to protect private property owners, farmers, sportsman and our environment by learning from the devastation in other states. Instead the Governor is paving the way for fracking without installing necessary safeguards,” Ball said in a statement.

Richard Becker, a Democratic Cortlandt Town Board member who wants to unseat Rep. Nan Hayworth, R-Mount Kisco, reported today that he raised $64,000 from donors and loaned his campaign $50,000. Overall, he said, his third-quarter fund-raising report will show he has $107,000 on hand.

The third-quarter reports are due any day now. Hayworth’s campaign committee, according to its July filing, had $630,662 on hand and had about $500,000 in debt—most of that personal loans from the candidate.

Hayworth is in her first term in Congress.

Congresswoman Nan Hayworth will host a job fair tomorrow (10/14)Nov. 14 in Dutchess County.

Scheduled to attend Hayworth’s jobs fair are Hudson Valley employers seeking new hires in a wide range of fields including health care, manufacturing, technology, financial and retail agencies.  Employment assistance organizations will also be present to provide career counseling and advice.  In addition to meeting with prospective employers, job seekers are encouraged to participate in a variety of workshops and informational seminars focusing on interview skills, resume writing, networking and job search information.

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fishkill Recreation Center at 793 Route 52.

State Sen. Greg Ball, R-Patterson, appeared on Fox News Tuesday night and took a bit of a beating after saying Hank Williams’ comment where he used Hitler to describe President Obama playing golf with House Speaker John Boehner was stupid.

You can see the clip here.

Speaking of job creation, Democrat Justin Wagner, who wants to run against Republican state Sen. Greg Ball next year, proposed several measures today to help small businesses and create jobs. Among them were a $4,000 tax credit for small companies that create jobs in the state, a statewide health-care exchange to lower the cost of insurance premiums and an independent review of the paperwork small businesses must file in hopes of streamlining the process.

“Too many New Yorkers are still struggling in this tough economy—we need to make job creation our number one priority,” Wagner said in a statement. “Small businesses form the backbone of our state’s economy and are crucial to any plan to put New Yorkers back to work.”

To see more about Wagner’s plan, go here.

Republican state Assemblyman Senator Greg Ball will be at the Carmel Town Board meeting tomorrow night (Wednesday 10/5) to talk about creating jobs and economic revitalization. He will team up with former White Plains Mayor Joseph Delfino.

“Mayor Delfino gets it,” Ball said in a statement. “He understands that government needs to get out of the way and let small businesses do what they do best. Create jobs. We’re taking that message to towns and cities throughout my district and letting people know we’re here to help, create partnerships and offer the support and resources needed to put people back to work,” added Ball.

“I wasn’t the smartest mayor, but I brought people together. I put the right people in the room and started a conversation,” Delfino said in a statement. “Greg Ball recognizes that government needs to work for people, not against them. If you create a environment that encourages business and works with people, you will be successful.”

The board meeting starts at 7 p.m. in Carmel town hall on McAlpin Avenue.

Former President Bill Clinton yesterday weighed in on Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s efforts at creating regional economic councils, saying the move has increased confidence among outsiders in New York’s government.

Clinton was speaking at an economic conference that included Cuomo announcing plans by tech companies to invest more than $4 billion in New York.

Cuomo’s Spending and Government Efficiency Commission took part in the conference. The group, of which state Sen. Greg Ball is a member, seeks ways to cut waste and streamline government.

“Unlike what we are seeing in Congress, we have been able to illustrate the strength of working together as a team and in a bipartisan fashion. Working with Governor Cuomo we cut state spending, passed an on time balanced budget and stood firm against all tax hikes, while proactively capping property taxes across the state. That type of progress took real team work and I applaud the Governor for heightening SAGE’s image. I’m honored to be part of a team that is focused specifically on cutting duplicative services and getting government out of the way so that beleaguered entrepreneurs and small businesses can do what they do best: create jobs!, ” Ball said in a statement.

“The old way of doing business in Albany is no longer an option,” said Senator Ball. “I’m thrilled and applaud Governor Cuomo for bringing new attention and focus to our efforts to streamline state government. Reinventing state government and streamlining our processes to make New York State open for business and job creation will be difficult because of political pitfalls and inner turf battles. To create jobs and entice new investment into our state we must cut through the clutter of state bureaucracy, nepotism and patronage, the former President is a great public image boost, making our commitment to the task public and real!”