Town of Poughkeepsie Democratic Committee to hold Congressional candidate debate

Posted on December 29, 2011 by garylevine

The Town of Poughkeepsie Democratic Committee will hold a conversation with the only 2 announced candidates seeking the Democratic nomination to run for the NY 19th Congressional seat, Matt Alexander, Mayor of the Village of Wappingers Falls and Richard Becker, Cortlandt Town Board member. The event will take place on January 10 at Uno Restaurant on Main Street in Poughkeepsie NY at 8:00 PM. There is a post-holiday party at 7:00 PM. All interested Democrats are welcome; the suggested donation for the party is $20.00 per person.

“We currently have a doctor in the House of Representatives who is committing malpractice on our Country and one of these gentlemen may be the cure,” said Gary Levine chair of the Town committee. Space is limited so please RSVP to Gary Levine, ToPDemsChair@aol.com.

For more information on the candidates please visit www.FriendsofMattAlexander.com or www.RichBecker2012.com.

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Lack of Candidates is a Town Problem

Posted on June 24, 2011 by garylevine

The Town of Poughkeepsie Republican council members have created numerous issues for candidates to run against. Residential property taxes have increased 28% over the past 3 years; commercial taxes increase almost 17% last year alone; Republicans accepted $200,000 from a Developer for a Senior center and then gave the same Developer a 20 year tax exemption beginning at 90% on a Rt. 9 property valued at $1.5 million; months after leaving the force a retired police officer is arrested for disclosing confidential information to drug dealers; the IBM country club is sold to a not for profit thereby further reducing the tax rolls; and now they voted to privatize the sewer department for what I can only presume to be political purposes.

Despite these lowlights, Town Democrats have only 2 well qualified candidates slated to run for the Town Board in November; Ann Shershin in Ward 6 and Rob Rubin in Ward 2. They deserve your consideration and your vote.

The lack of interested and qualified candidates however is not just a problem for the Democrats, it is a Town problem. In order to change the culture and the policies in the Town, good people of all political parties must get involved and provide real alternatives to the current Republican agenda.

Gary Levine, Chair

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GOP Sells Out Seniors and Taxpayers

Posted on June 15, 2011 by garylevine

As part of a trade with the developers of Oakwood Commons, a town road was to be exchanged for $100,000 and a 4000 square foot Seniors Center on Route 9 and Neptune Road. The Developers estimated the “target” rentals would be about $18 per square foot but the rate for the Seniors Center was to be $1 per square foot for a period of 10 years. 

Instead the Town Republican Councilmen accepted a “donation” of $200,000 from the Developers to facilitate the construction of a 1000 square foot addition and renovations to the White House situated next to Town Hall. The Town must now use at least $300,000 of its Recreation Fund to finance the balance of the construction costs that will be negotiated with and by the Developers.

Coincidentally, the Town Republicans granted these same Developers, contributors to the Town Republican Party, a 20 year property tax exemption starting at 90%. Plus the Developers will have increased revenues of approximately $700,000 on the space not occupied by the Seniors Center. 

Given these considerations and the increasingly difficult tax burdens placed on residents, the Town Board should have held the Developers accountable for the total cost of construction.

Seniors had been promised a center for many years and it appears the Town of Poughkeepsie Republican Councilmen sold out taxpayers and the Town coffers to get it.

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Welcome to the online home of the Town of Poughkeepsie Democrats!

Posted on June 15, 2011 by garylevine

Turn here for local news, information and commentaries.

Town of Poughkeepsie Democratic Committee is an organization established by committed individuals to energize and organize for the betterment of the Town’s future.  Our goal is to inform and to motivate so you can impact local government instead of local government impacting you.

On the web you will find information on our latest events as well as a host of features, including news, information and commentaries, a photo gallery, a blog, and much more.  We hope you will visit us return frequently for updated news and discussions and don’t forget to visit out FaceBook page.

Please Excuse Our Appearance during reconstruction of this new platform.

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