If you have criticism for the New Rochelle City government you are a “tea partier” who is “unable or unwilling to find the truth”; if you do not support raising taxes you are a hypocrite who accepts government services while decrying them as socialist, if you try to make your case for lower taxes and smaller government you are “ignorant”.
This strikes me as an odd way for a radio show host in New Rochelle to describe his long-time, regular listeners. For WVOX Good Morning Westchester host Bob Marrone, if you are not with him in his support for the liberal Democrat agenda in Washington or the same local Democrat members of City Council and the Democrat-appointed City Manager then you are, according to Bob, an ignorant, hypocritical, fraud.
Sheesh, tell us how you really feel!
As is so common among the left in New Rochelle, Marrone presents a Hobson’s Choice — a false choice — of his own construction. If you raise concerns about algae on a lake the only option is to spend $1 million to dredge the lake or pink slip our firefighters. If you ask why there is no place to sit in Hudson Park you are the cause of a serious manpower shortage on our police force. If you want potholes fixed before Thanksgiving you support firing City workers. If you think the City does a poor job of maintaining its own properties you should not complain when the City fails to inspect college dormitories that are significantly over capacity.
For reasons that are unclear, Marrone makes a connection between people calling his show after our algae on Pinebrook story to their supposed “demands” that the lake be dredged and this occur without taxes going up. The idea that taxes need to go up to deal with the algae problem is predicated on the idea that the ONLY way to deal with the algae problem is to dredge the lake and Barry Fertel’s statement on WVOX that dredging the lake will cost $1 million. The logical construct here is:
- The lake has algae.
- The only way to get rid of the algae is to dredge the lake.
- Dredging would cost $1,000,000.
- To get $1,000,000,holding all other City services constant, the City would need to raise taxes.
- The only people who are concerned about algae oppose raising taxes.
- Therefore, people who are concerned about algae are ignorant, hypocritical fools.
If that seems convoluted it’s because it is, especially the idea that only “teapartiers” care about the algae in the lake. Last I checked, the whole “global warming” and “environmentalism” or “green” movement was the provenance of the far left.
As the person who wrote the algae article which prompted calls to Bob’s show, I can say I have not heard people demanding “that Beechmont Lake be dredged without taxes going up” but even if they were what does that have to do with Michele Bachmann?
Marrone seems to believe that anyone who thinks government is too small or spends too much or wastes money has no right to make any demands on any government. He appears to be confusing traditional conservatives or libertarians with anarchists. From what I have heard, most of the callers Bob is decrying are advocating limited government not no government. Asking that the government enforce the law and provide for the health and safety of its citizens is not inconsistent with believing in limited government.
Part of the problem is that Marrone has apparently bought the line being pushed by the City Manager when he writes “the city did not even have enough money to staff the inspectors that should have caught the Iona College dorm code violation”.
The City didn’t have enough money?
This from a pundit who believes “New Rochelle runs a fairly tight fiscal ship.” Newsflash! We have building inspectors turning a blind eye to faulty construction in exchange for bribes, on-duty police officers harassing innocent women, supervisors rigging bids, and much more. This stuff is happening on the taxpayer dime and has been going on for many years.
For the record, two of three building inspectors were “unexpectedly resigned” over the past year or so and the third was being chauffeured around for months after his DWI conviction. Is that they were not being paid to work or not working when they were being paid? Note that all this was going on while Iona was violating the CR building code that they demanded when the three dorms in question were built. Is it really too much to ask that the City properly mothball a building or have a building inspector leave a bar stool long enough to go inspect a dorm once a year?
I know I cannot win this argument. After all, a wiseman once quoted another guy who said, “It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in an argument.”
You can use the algae
You can use the algae and get paid for it or use it to fuel city trucks.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/algae-biodiesel.htm
Bob Cox
I am sick and tired of you refering to me as a drunk. Again all your infomation is wrong, what ever moron at City Hall who is your rat and feeding you mis-infomation. Once again I was never driven around and you lied right to my face telling me you were going to retract your story and put in the right infomation I provided you. I made a mistake and paid for it. The City of New Rochelle Building Does not inspect dorms for Occupancy the Fire Dept. does that. So again wrong Infomation. Keep refering to me as a drunk Mr. Cocks and you be hearing from my Lawyer.But since you don’t make any money and you don’t own a house in New Rochelle its proberly a waste of time. Which is pretty funny because your always bitching about taxes and you don’t even pay them. I’ve done my job well for 27 years and have done more for the people in this City in civic organization then your stupid blog will ever do….Anybody else who wants to trash me be a man and put your real name.
John Caldararo
Not a drunk?
Judging by your spelling & grammar, you must have been drunk when you crafted that nonsensical reply, that or stupid. Which is it?
If this is the level of intelligence that passes in NR for 27 years, it’s no wonder the city is going down the tubes.
Moron
Again, another moron who won’t leave his or her name.
Mr. Caldararo practice why you preach
Mr. Caldararo
I believe it’s in your best interest to practice what you preach and “never look or write on this blog again.” It’s best for you to fade away as opposed to opening a can of worms that you will never recover from. If the administration holds employees to the highest ethical standards as the city manager claims it may be time for you to take a retirement incentive.
Never Again
To all you morons that write on this blog.
I wrote in anger and will never look or write on this blog again. So all you morons can say what ever you want because no one cares what the 5 or 6 people that look at this blog everyday write.
As for you Mr. Cox’s what comes around goes around.
Bad Karma will come your way.
Good bye forever
Caldararo
Why does it matter so much that a person identifies themselves? It has no bearing on the quality of information that they write about. If “john caldararo” submits a post that says the world is round, would the meaning of the same postchange if it were submitted by me, “deepthroat”? I dont think so. It comes across load and clear in your previous replies that you are really just looking to stick it up the butt of the people that are not in favor of the way you conduct business. AND you couldnt sound more disappointed that Bob doesnt own a home in New Rochelle (if, in fact that is true). You will have to find another way to get back at him John.
ps…even “real” names can be fictitious John
Even “real” names can be fictitious
“ps…even “real” names can be fictitious” right, Jeferstahl?
Obliged to Comment
Bob,
Just read your post and I have to agree with you. I was dumbfounded when I heard Barry Fertel on WVOX Monday morning in regards to the algae in the lake and ANY sort of questioning of the decisions or actions of the present city council. This man continually antagonizes angrily spewing back at his constituency or the residents of New Rochelle no matter what the forum. Once again if you are not with him 100% you are against him and the city. The problem is he is allowed to get away with it. Radio segments no exception. I hope you could find a way to post his past segment on this site and that is all any one would need to hear.
As for the inspections I agree here as well. Yes, New Rochelle may/does not have the money to create a “staff” of building inspectors but we do have a few on staff right? It escapes me how one of the most populous structures in New Rochelle was not inspected. Jeez, for no other reason than safety.
Priorities are what it comes down to. Do the best with what you have and an Iona dorm with hundreds? of kids living there would be a priority in my book. Again not to “get” Iona but just in terms of safety.
By the way Ms Sussman my street still has winter pot holes.