Bramson Wins in Landslide, New Rochelle Democrats Retain Majority on City Council, May Achieve Super-Majority

42 thoughts on “Bramson Wins in Landslide, New Rochelle Democrats Retain Majority on City Council, May Achieve Super-Majority”

1. LMAO
   Why in the world would anyone vote noham bramson in yet again or any of the others on what they call a city council .well you voted the garbage back in so don’t complain when your taxes go up and they lay off fire,police,and city workers . they make the city run .

2. No one voted
   One sad fact of the election is how few people voted. Someone recently posted on one of these blogs that NR has about 40,000 voters. And it appears about 8500 will vote for mayor, so if my math is right, only 21% of the voters came out for mayor this year? Does anyone know what % came out for other mayor elections? 21% seems incredibly low. Have the residents of NR become completely disengaged in local politics? Does anyone care except for about 1/5 of voters?

   1. To AbeLincoln re: No One Voted
      There is always a poor turnout in NR City Council Elections. Generally, the Dems get about 20% or less and the Reps get about a 25% turnout.

      The generally higher GOP turnout occurs because most Republicans are pretty old. Older people vote more frequently.

      The generally lower Dem turnout occurs because most young people are Democrats. Younger people vote less frequently and mainly register to vote for President.

      But with 52% of all NR Voters registered as Democrats (and rising), and 21% of NR Voters registered as Republicans (and dropping), it is almost impossible for the Republicans to elect our Mayor. Tarantino was guaranteed a win running for City Council, because the NR Dem Committee didn’t run anyone against him. But this depressed both Dem and Rep turnout in CD2. Nonetheless, there it depressed the Dem turnout more than the Rep turnout.

      The voters should have a choice in each and every election. My assumption, based on no knowledge other than logic, is that Klugman unilaterally chose not to run anyone against Tarantino or Maisano, implicitly guaranteeing them reelection. This guaranty preempted either Tarantino or Maisano running for Mayor as they probably would not have been elected to anything if they had run for Mayor.

      So the Republican’s incompetent Chair, Doug Colety, ran a guaranteed loser, Richard St Paul, for Mayor. St Paul was available because the average NR Republican voter in CD1 prefers Trangucci to St Paul, and they ended up both living in CD1.

      But if either Tarantino or Maisano ran for Mayor, the GOP would have at least had a chance to win, and would have greatly reduced the amazing victory margin achieved by Noam Bramson in the recent election. More importantly, if Tarantino or Maisano ran for Mayor, there would have been a better Republican turnout in all the Council Districts, and perhaps the GOP would have picked up a seat or two by a narrow margin.

      But with Richard St Paul running for Mayor, and his campaign rapidly decomposing as Election Day approached, the usual 25% GOP turnout failed to materialize. His depressing candidacy depressed the Republican turnout.

      In CD4, Ivar Hyden won 80% of the vote against Kevin Barrett. Barrett’s main claim was that he was superior because he was the professional politician. The very fact he claimed this as his main qualification, demonstrated Barrett knows nothing about politics. To most voters Barrett was bragging that he is a paid political hack, and to most voters that was a disqualifying factor, especially when compared to the known integrity of graphic artist / art gallery owner Ivar Hyden. So in CD4, very few Republicans voted, and of those who did a substantial number voted for Hyden. As Bob Cox predicted based on the LWV debate, Ivar Hyden won the support of most non-affilated voters and of some Republican voters.

      In answer to your question “Does anyone care except for about 1/5 of voters?”, I think the facts speak for themselves. In general too many New Rochelle voters pay too little attention to City Hall or its elections, and are more concerned about municipal services than about the costs. As the municipal services are provided by the Appointed Excecutive City Manager rather than the Elected Legislative Mayor, there is little incentive for a high voter turnout in a New Rochelle City Council Election.

      1. Tarantino was guaranteed a
         Tarantino was guaranteed a win because they (Noam & his donor friend & the city consultant) gerrymandered as many Republicans into his district & out of others as possible, to the point where the Democrats didn’t even run a candidate.

         And after being exposed to this BS first hand, I would strongly encourage Dean Skelos, Republican leader of the NYS Senate, to hold on tight & not let Cuomo push him around on redistricting. I could care less if it ends up being partisan so long as the Republicans maintain control over the chamber.

3. Post election posts
   I am not a frequent visitor to this site. I was curious to see what was being said of the election results. Pretty negative stuff. Maybe that’s what people like to read, but I won’t be back soon.

   We’ve had an election. With all its flaws that’s the way we do it here. I’m grateful we can come to a conclusion without having to put our lives on the line as the people in Syria. It is a wonderful country we have. And if the people made a mistake, they get to change it in four years, not 40 as in Libya.

   So wouldn’t it be great if all of us, Republicans, Democrats, Independents and Independence, etc. took a few weeks to stop clawing at one another and calling one another crooks, liars, implicit Nazi’s, and a long list of other names. If we are going to live together in this city, maybe we should start some calm, respectful discussion (where we listen to one another without assuming the worst) about
   –how to improve our city
   –how attract people who want to live here, start businesses here and invest here
   –how to educate our children well
   –how to balance the energy of a city center and transportation hub with calm and peaceful neighborhoods
   –how to pay for all we need in hard economic times when everyone feels strapped but also still wants their garbage picked up, the leaves and snow removed and the pot holes, eventually filled.

   Of course, maybe no one would read that discussion. It might not be as entertaining, or emotionally satisfying.

   But if that’s the case we need not look at Democrats, Republicans, whatevers, to see what’s wrong. We need to look within.

   1. Best Sequence of Posts Ever in TOTS
      I have never seen a series of diverse postings, ideas, disappointments, or disagreements so well presented and prepared. It almost casts a light on the likely apathetic voters who stayed home in droves Tuesday and left the City to those who really care for its progress and development.

      Southsider,you have place a laser beam on what is really important at this point and others here haave commented. We need to accept the will of those who had a will to express and move ahead. I can only hope that this minority of concerned citizens can keep the platform elevated, not through some magic 8 ball trick of levitation but through dedicated hard work and commitment to the City. It is going through a tough patch, not all decisions were sound, nor focused on current state, but hindsight or even at sight criticisms don’t help now. The past does not have to be prologue, it is up to us.

      Politics is a lousy business; people who enter the arena are either masochists, megalomaniacs, wishful thinkers, or perhaps, dedicated Americans who want to make a difference. The cable news channel, Internet search engines, social media will find every wart, every nuance and report it and often twist it into unrecognizable shapes. Movements will form, power vacuums seemingly filled, no direction or no purpose other than the Un-American actions of somebody called Grover Norquist, who will continue to enact a pledge which can easily distort the will of the people, the actual pledge of office and frankly, basic critical thinking and decision making.

      We have real problems in New Rochelle and now we still have Noam Bramson and 6 other Council Members. The first challenge might be the efficacy of a choice to dismiss firefighters based on budget issues which will be worse in 2013 than 2012. This is an area to challenge unless and until no other alternatives exist and I think they do. Better to dismiss administrative staff up to and including exempt senior managers, call for salary givebacks from the same population, put in an early retirement program, put the first providers unions on notice that contract negotiations for 2013 will be very strict regarding benefits, etc, and leave 2012 as a year of no harm for first providers. Logic is simple: the first needs of a family and a community are food, shelter, safety and security. Buy a years time and other possibilities might come through for us — ranging from federal funding via Inferastructure spending, member item funding, even county funding. I think dismissing firefighters will cause disruption, further negativity in the community, and is unnecessary. Strome should be now preparin a list which, in dollar amounts equals the amount of money saved by keeping the firemen.

      I say this only as a synopsis of ideas and there are many others I have in this area. Noam Bramson has always accepted my views and, while he has not always put them into action, he has received them.

      I think he has a herculean task ahead of him. Some come about because of his and Council issues, but a lot because of our failure to support or positively confront, to fail to recognize we are the cause of our own effects in over consumerism, and southsider, by not acting on the fact that the direction of the city has radically turned south.

      Yes, I have disappointments. Mayo has energy and ideas and I see him as more of an Independent than a Republican. Spertus would have provided a dimension not seen in Fertel and we would have been the better for it. But we have Louis, Al, Jared, and Ivar and this is a fine nucleus. All are seeing the fact that a thriving City — one that will attract investment, new commercial businesses, and residents requires a City that is more united, committed to working as a Unit, and one that is not so insular that it fails to provide security and service for its residents especially those downtown.

      I think Noam gets it, or will soon enough, if more of you approach the process compassionately, openly and with demands that you want to be part of the process. My complaint about the City fathers is that, frankly, there is a lack of critical thinking which comes out in values and priorities placed in their planning process. They also muddy the waters by not complying with the City Code — look especially at Article X and Article XIII to see what I mean. The mayor is already a strong mayor despite language in the Code that suggest he is a ceremonial mayor. That is not trivial, it brings into question the overall operations of the city government and why it works this way. The Council has powers it fails to enact and the excuse given is always we are in the minority. Well, that is a cop-out. While strengthening the party infrastructure as suggested above, have a political professional tell you what going on the record means via a vote in chambers. It means a platform.

      Let me close with two areas quickly. The city government must tackle the many isses around the school system and the lack of a sustainable business district to attract funding and movement into the tax paying stream. It is literally that simple and necessary. Brian, you see the school district from the viewpoint of the trees and not the forest. YOu see better schools, stronger parental advocates; you do not see a cadre of inept administrators, a board which knows little about oversight and policy, and a scheming Superintendent who does not even reside in this city, His expense reports would pay for the fireman issue.

      City council must take responsibility for the school district, building a viable downtown. The mayor and council must table great ideas such as Sustainability (as a full project), Davids Island, Echo Bay, until more stable financial times. All of the above must figuratively embrace and support the City. And you, I and all citizens must stop the bulls— and work together.

      Tomorrow is a special day for me and many others. It is Veterans Day. Take a walk and look at the monuments devoted to service and sacrifce. Serve and sacrifice again, NOW, and accept nothing less from elected officials.

      Best to Noam,Jared, Ivar, Shari, Lou, Al, and Barry. Get it done!

      1. To Warren Gross re: Best Sequence of Posts Ever in TOTS
         Thank your for an excellent post.

         I agree with your entire post, except that the city government is preempted by NY State Law from running the School Distict. Until about 20 years ago, the Mayor’s main power was to appoint the School Board, but that power was taken away by NY State which insisted that the School Board must be chosen and its budget and approved by the voters. The people vote to approve school board taxes. That’s greater democracy not less.

      2. School Board
         Brian, are you sure? I know the large cities are exempt from voter choice and many states have seen the disastrous results of leaving such a decision in the hands of well meaning, but generally unqualified trustees who are often people with little or no experience. Please cite me the law if you can.

         Otherwise, I am sure you have some ideas on how the city could play a significant role in the overall school district process. It actually must based on both property tax matters and achievement of it strategic plan.

         thanks for the information on the post and happy to read your material which is thoughtful, not negative. If your information bears out, I am going to get in touch with Albany contacts and make a strong case for overturning this law which essentially works against the State’s and children’s interest. Cuomo will see it I am sure and there are ways to insure it does not conflict with voter choice; one being putting member candidates on ballot under the council district lines in November. Another is making the case that the ends sought, voter choice, are anemic in the way they were established and give people nothing approaching a choice. Boards become isolated and insulated and any responsible blogger and outside of TOTS, a parent has to be open and honest and admit this is the case.

         I will begin my action strategies when I receive you input. I will lay down ground work beginning with my NYS Assembly representatives and Senate members.

         Thank you Brian and I look forward to your posting.

      3. To Warren Gross re: School Board
         I don’t have the law off hand. The School Board is not my own main area of concern. It sounds like Bob Cox’s turf and perhaps he or somebody else knows, what NYS Law, Court or entity forced New Rochelle to change from Mayor-appointed School Boards to elected ones, and at the same time give voters a referendum on the budget.

         It could well have been a court decision, based on the NYS constitution or a statute, and not the specific wording of a statute itself. A constitutional change is difficult to produce. As I understand it, it has to pass in Assembly and Senate, and then do it again after the following election, and then be submitted to all of the people of NYS (most of whom live in NYC, Towns and Villages, but not small cities) in a referendum.

         I think there are other ways to deal with quality education being expensive, and I think that includes transparency and administrative (not educational) expenses, and with efficiencies. These solutions are already available here without changing the mindset in Albany.

         I am unsure what entity you think could make better choices than the voters. I suspect that most voters in School Board elections are property owners, and in particular probably those with the most expensive property. They are willing to pay high taxes for schools because it protects their property values. If their property values fall, they would get a court to reduce their taxes via certioraris.

         Perhaps a certiorari is the solution to your taxes. But certioraris are destroying Nassau County, and I fear they will cause a catastrophic, spiraling downward trend in revenue and services in New Rochelle and Westchester.I believe New Rochelle changed over during Tim Idoni’s tenure, and during his several terms, Idoni was probably the last mayor to have had the power to appoint the NR BOE. It might have happened in his first or second term.

         Regarding power of large cities in NYS, keep in mind I am not a lawyer but do like reading law. In general, NYC is a class separated from all other cities in NY State. NYC tends to be defined as different using either of the following terms, which I am loosely describing:

         – Cities of over One Million people
         – Cities wholly encompassing multiple counties

         A good question is how the BOE and its budgets are approved in all of Westchester’s Cities: Mt Vernon, Yonkers, White PLains, Rye, Peekskill.

         Towns and villages are in another world, and I have no idea how things are determined there, but perhaps someone from Pelham is reading this, and can comment.

         Obviously the NR city government is indirectly in the middle of NR BOE revenue budgets, regarding abatements, certioraris, permitting, denying, encouraging or discouraging residential or commercial development.

         Personally, I think NR, south of Wykagyl Country Club is already residentially overly developed, and that the Avalons and Trump run up BOE costs much more than they pay for them.

         I think NR should cease deliberately increasing its population via development. It puts a greater financial burden on municipal and educational services, and especially with tax abatements and certioraris, tax receipts don’t pay for those services.

         In comparison, I think what we do need is retail development to pay sale taxes, property taxes, and to provide well paying jobs for New Rochellians. Plus, it would be nice if I didn’t have to go to Coop City, White Plains or Yonkers to shop. I live in downtown NR, and do use many of the stores, but considering New Rochelle is a three-college town, an affluent comunity, with many educated people, there’s really not much to do reason to draw customers from the North End or from the nearby towns.

         Perhaps very-under-taxed Wykagyl Country Club should be converted to retail property, or at least have its taxes greatly increased. Its very expensive property but is low-taxed.

         The main exception to New Rochelle’s last four decades of retail slumber, is New Rochelle’s downtown restaurants, which do attract people at night, but this is when much of downtown New Rochelle is closed.

         Thanks for the complement, Warren.

      4. Ask Tocci
         Ask former NYS Assemblyman Ron Tocci about an elected school board. It was Tocci who sponsored the legislation and worked to get it passed which made the NR School trustees an elected board as opposed to an appointed board.

4. The biggest problem was St. Paul
   I agree with a lot of comments, but I live south of Main St and voted for Bramson and Trangucci. I did not want to vote for Bramson – not at all. But what choice did the NR GOP give me? Was I supposed to vote for a guy who owes $30,000 in child support, defaulted on loans, filed for bankruptcy and has multiple children with multiple wives…are you kidding me? Since St Paul got elected, I hear rumors he don’t even live here most days. He lost 79-21% – that is a disgrace, someone told me that no republican candidate in history ever got less than about 40%. I am a republican and cannot even count how many of my Republican friends either voted for Bramson, left it blank or stayed home, which hurt other candidates. I am a senior, lived in NR my whole life and this is first time I ever voted for Democrat for mayor. Shame on GOP leadership for not vetting St. Paul (especially after last year with the nut they ran for Congress). Shame on rep party leadership for not pulling endorsement for St. Paul, that would have least showed they believe in something. I close with this – hey NR GOP – how about giving me someone to vote for next time we have a mayor race. I am ashamed of my party for running St. Paul, while I do support Trangucci, Tarantino and Maisano, all good guys.

   1. still made sense over Bumson!
      Now with all the things that you said about St Paul voting for him still made sense over Bumson!

5. A Fond Farwell to the late great New Rochelle.
   To my Fellow Residents of New Rochelle,

   Today, we are forced, like a spirit that has just parted from its dead body, to look on as we watch Noam Bramson and his band of Democratic “pall-bearers” carry the body of this dead city to its final resting place and issue a fond Farwell to the late great New Rochelle.

   It seems that the call to oppose the course of our glorious history is growing louder.

   Remember, freedom is not the natural state of man’s existence. Freedom and prosperity, as seen in American cities like New Rochelle, once exemplified the true experience of living as an independent community of engaged citizens. However, the majority of our citizens continue to shrink down in the face of social, political and economic adversity and because of this, we deserve everything we get!
   I am ashamed of my neighbors, friends and the greater portion of voters in this city for failing to oppose the natural course of history. We have indeed sentenced ourselves to another 4 more years of social, political and economic bondage at the hands of the “majority” supported electee’s that have the collective intellectual firepower of a slingshot!!

   How did a group of political “pimps” completely destroy the Republican Party candidates?
   Was it their message? What WAS the Democrat’s message again? I don’t think I ever heard what their message was. More disappointing, I don’t even remember what the Republican message was in this race. I vaguely remember Republicans throwing out generic terms like “responsible government” and “sustainable development”….c’mon what a joke!!

   That’s about as original of a message as a Ms. America Pageant contestant claiming that she wants “World Peace”.

   I’s time to grow up and act like MEN!!(It’s just a saying to prove a point that we conservatives (men and women residents) need to toughen up and bring the fight to the opposition with a real ideological message that does not change regardless of the candidate.

   It is time to break the spell that both parties have cast upon us – we will do this by embracing ideology and not only party lines or candidates. I voted for the Republican candidates on the Independence party line across the board, but my vote, as I’m sure many of yours was as well, neutralized by some voter that does not own property here and therefore does not get the “treat” of direct tax hikes on your home!!

   Those of you readers that own a home like me understand that writing out a property tax check is a very disorienting experience. (School taxes especially).
   We are ruled by devils of political deception who force us – by means of law and majority vote – to be impoverished by the laziness and expectations of others!

   We, the people of New Rochelle lost this election. We lost it because we didn’t demand better from our candidates (Ilyse & Steve are the exceptions here-hats off to both of you).

   I want to remind all of you that this nation was built with the intention of government operating as a “constitutional republic”, which is “government of the people, by the people, for the people operating within the rules of the law.
   Our local elections have become a mobocracy, also called majority rule. This is a government that is “of the savages, by the savages, and for the savages” operating under the laws of the political jungle.

   As we here in New Rochelle, Westchester, New York and America are fast learning, that things are not as they should be.
   When 51% of the people realize that they can “vote themselves” the income (earned economic property) of the other 49% a real working class revolution will force real change on all levels of our government.

   If we conservatives want to begin the re-building process we simply need to ask ourselves this question:
   What is the proper role of government in our lives?

   Let’s re-build from here.

   New Rochelle may have sold its soul to the Devil, but, it’s time for us to bully it back.

   -Kurt Colucci

6. NOT FOR NOTHING BUT
   These elections yesterday were a farce on many levels locally. I recall Saddam Hussein winning 100% of the popular vote in the years before his demise. It was Vote or Die… but not quite the same as the MTV slogan implied.

   Remember, the Democrat controlled redistricting plan made the opposition all but impotent once again. This has been the case for two straight post redistricting elections.

   Is this fairness? No it is control… Control by the brain trust who is running our fine city.

7. The NR City Council Election & Republicans
   Now that the election is over, local Republicans are licking their wounds, and asking ‘why’?

   I have posted at TOTS and Patch, and told local Republicans directly, why they are too unpopular to control the New Rochelle City Council, and will repeat my explanation here again.

   New Rochelle is one of the most enlightened, educated and decent communities in the USA, and I think all our residents realize this and are quite proud of the people of NR.

   The voters of New Rochelle and of Westchester perceive the NR Republican Party as being part of the Republican Party that exists in State capitols and in Washington DC. How can one deny that connection?

   Most of the voters of New Rochelle despise the policies of Republicans in State capitols and in DC, and for good reason. The policies of Republicans in State capitols and DC, tend to be primitive, bigoted, and ignorant. Nationally, most Republican politicians rant against science and education, against programs to protect the young, aged and infirm, and against anyone accused of foreign birth.

   A Republican politician in New Rochelle, even if a decent and informed person, will always find it difficult to be elected to office in NR, because the association with Republicans outside of NR puts an unsavory stink to any Republican candidate. This year the NR Republicans have especially suffered because of their association with various fools who are trying to get the Republican presidential nomination. This year’s Republican presidential candidates are an especially, unsavory, ignorant group, especially people like Herman Cain, Rick Perry and Michelle Bachmann.

   A Republican NR City Council candidate such as Steve Mayo, whatever his qualities, cannot avoid being perceived by the voters, as flocking with the national and state Republican candidates and policies. Furthermore, this perceived association is probably an accurate perception of his own politics.

   Importantly, there are very few registered Republicans in New Rochelle, only 8,523 (21%) of 40,895 voters. In comparison, there are 21,544 (53%) Democrats. The only reason a Republican represents Council District 2, or Legislative District 11, is that the 79 year old NR Democratic Chair, Arnie Klugman, unilaterally refused seeking Democratic candidates for those offices. But Tarantino and Maisano might well have lost if they had to actually run against a Democrat.

   My suggestion is that the NR Republican committee should completely disassociate itself from the NY State and National Republican party, and rename itself (and to avoid renaming itself as the despised ‘Tea Party’). I suggest renaming itself the ‘New Rochelle Party’. I expect a name change will not occur, because the NR Republicans actually share the weird, ignorant and obnoxious values of national Republicans.

   An alternate suggestion is that the NR Republican politicians should simply abandon the Republican Party, and instead join a Party that can elect a majority to the NR City Council. Eventually, this is what will occur, as less and less Republicans live in NR. Considering that most of NR’s Republicans are aged, the number of NR Republicans in eight years will probably be reduced from 21% to 10%, at which point there will be no NR Republicans in public office.

   I am hoping Bob Cox will comment on what I have written here. I think he will agree with my analysis of the perceptions of NR voters, although he might wish things were otherwise.

   1. When the North End Democrats
      When the North End Democrats have their pockets empty enough they will look for change. Your argument is very myopic. The Democrats have the luxary of living in the Disney Land of Democrats and thus Loosers like Fertel can either get elected or Run unopposed. Brian if you think having one party Rule is a good idea than you do not understand why those who framed the constitution created 3 branches of national government.
      Do you think over riding the Cuomo Tax Cap was in any of the Democrats mind when the blindly voted straight across the ticket. Do you think it crossed their mind that having a super majority gives Bramson a ceremonial by Charter Mayor more power over their descretionary income than anyone else in their governmental lives. Out of blind stepping and I say they would vote for anyone no matter if they were a democrat. To me that is Stupid Blind and without complete understanding of anything but stupidity. Now we let the cards fall and see how my neighbors up North like them Apples.

      1. To Political Forec…
         If you reread what I posted, you’ll realize I don’t believe in one party rule.

         It is exactly for that reason, that I suggest the NR Republican Committee abandon the unelectable Republican party brand, and disassociate itself, by changing its Party name, to something acceptable to New Rochelle’s 78% of non-Republican voters. One needs to at least attract the non-affiliated voters if not the registered Democrats.

         You are clearly wrong about North End property owners and the high taxes. They vote every year to increase their own school taxes, which is 2/3 of their total property taxes. They will continue to do so, because it protects their property values, but also because educating the young is one of the primary obligations of any intelligent society.

         NR Democrats are more politically concerned about what’s happening in Washington, Albany and Wall Street. NR Democrats’ main concern regarding their own politicians, is that Barack Obama is perceived as slightly (or more) to the right of center.

         Regarding three branches of government, we do not have that in New Rochelle, as we have a City Manager government, which is effectively a two branched government.

         I have advocated for decades that NR should have an Elected Executive, the Mayor, and that the Mayor should not be on the City Council, but rather replaced by a seventh Council District / Councilperson.

         I was surprised during the 2011 LWV Debates at the many Republican Council candidates who were asked about a ‘Strong Mayor’, and were against it.

         ‘Strong Mayor’ is a bad name for the office, and advocating for it would be eased by referring to it as ‘Elected Executive’, something I always try to do.

         I think the ‘Cuomo Tax Cap’ is rather unknown, nor of concern, to the average Democratic Voter in NR.

         What bothers the average Democratic Voter in NR, is that they believe people earning $500,000 or more a year, should have to pay higher NYS and Federal Income Taxes. This is the belief of the average North End Democrat, many of whom earn over $500,000. Cuomo is blamed by many Democrats for preventing more taxes on the wealthy.

         The Democratic Committee never expected this year, to elect a Super Majority, so never thought about it. We thank Richard St Paul, Kevin Barrett and especially Doug Colety, for their amazing efforts in giving the New Rochelle Council Democrats a Super Majority.

         I’m sure most people in the North End are quite pleased by the 2011 elections, and they hope that the 2012 elections result in the re-election of President Obama, a filibuster-proof Democratic Majority in the Senate, and a substantial Democratic Majority in the House of Representatives. The North End Democrats would also like to see a majority of progressives on the US Supreme Court, and hope Obama doesn’t disappoint them.

      2. Mr. Sussman any relation to
         Mr. Sussman any relation to Marrianne?
         If so I know you and see you on metro north on occassion. If its you I am proud to know you even if I thought Marrianne loyalty to Noam over the top and at times bordering on Inappropriate. That said if it is you I understand where you are coming from.
         Even if it is not you I like reading your thoughts as they are organized intelligent and usually well pointed.

         What would the New Rochelle or the Westchester County non Republicans call themselves? We have 2 main party’s. In most of NY State we have only 1 main party. We have people who have no idea of the issues voting right across the sheet. We have a Court System that is lousey with those same party members running the show. It’s 1 gene pool and evenutually those genes produce mutants. I say we are long past that point as the mutants are running the show or at least the mutants are excepted as qualified. The North End is in for a rude awakening when they start to look at the schools more closely. New Rochelle HS is a mess and those not in Private or Parochial schools may have their heads in the sand. Once the schools unravel real estate will begin to erode and the entire mess goes down hill. The Orthodox Jew’s have bought more time and those who send their children to private or to Iona Prep or Ursuline have bought more time. It will hit the fan. There is a lot of good here in New Rochelle but its built on a very slippery slope. That High School is Ground Zero for it all. Either they keep it together or it turns into Mount Vernon and away we go. I do not think this city is in very good position going forward for many reasons inclusive of Pension obligations. Without real Commercial Tax its all going to come down. Bramson has never left New Rochelle except for Harvard. He has zero perspective and the bad part about it he thinks he does. If it is you I will say hello next time on the train. If its not glad to read your writings.

      3. To Political Forec… on re: Mr. Sussman any relation to
         I am unrelated to Marianne and her husband.

         I don’t commute on Metro North, so if you see me on the train, I might well be going into the city for entertainment purposes. But I do use the train, and I regularly hand out political lit at the train station.

         I often differ, on a number of issues from Marianne, Noam and Barry. I never supported reassessment, and kept telling them to abandon the idea during the 2007 Council Elections.

         I do not support Forrest / Echo Bay, at least to the extent I believe the Armory must be preserved retained, and used; and I believe City Yard might need some major repair, but should be left at its current location.

         I advocated against tearing down Huguenot St around 1989-90, and against both Avalons, and against Trump and against New Roc City. I am against most proposals I have encountered regarding Davids Island, although I do think something should be done with it. Actually I think New Rochelle should get out of the development business except for rare exceptions. You mnight not realize this, but the NR Dem Committee, itself has no policies on development, and that is left to the individual Councilpersons to decide based on their individual own conscience.

         I am not a Republican, so I am unsure of what the NR and Westchester Republicans should name themselves. But the less partisan sounding, and the more friendly the name, the greater the chance of achieving success. I’d suggest something like the ‘New Rochelle Party’ or ‘Westchester Party’. Such names sound non-partisan and local, and therefore divorces itself from the national Republican Party and its weirdness.

         To Steve Mayo who is sensitive to my comment: I think the national Democratic Party is weird too, but I and most New Rochellians prefer its weirdness to that of the national Republican Party.

         The problem with a local party, is that NYS petitioning requirements are quite difficult. So actaully, it is the NYS Republican Party that needs to change its name, and get 50,000 votes statewide in a gubernatorial election to ease local petitioning requirements. Actually what we really need, is to change NY Election Law to ease the formation of local political parties.

         I agree with many of your concerns, but I think NR will continue to have great public schools. WHat it needs to do to reduce education costs is to reduce the BOE / Supervisory structure, and develop more modern education methods that in High School and perhaps Middle School, would reduce the need for as many teachers, while also reducing class size. This needs to be done throughout the country, and including colleges.

         I will not comment on Bramson here, but Noam, Barry and Marianne do hear my opinions more than they’d probably wish. I think on some level they actually appreciate it, as I provide a contrast to political types who complement anything they do. I also talk with a variety of people in government, usually quite bluntly. I communicate with Democrats, Republicans, Bureaucrats, merchants, and people I meet in downtown New Rochelle. I talk too much, buit I am very interested in other’s opinions.

         Perhaps I am the person you see at the train, so if you think you see me, please do say hello, and tell me you are the one who posted here at TOTS. As I live on Huguenot, a few blocks from the train station, you are likely to bump into me somewhere, if not on the train.

   2. What’s in a name anyway?
      Well noted but I doubt much of what you propose will ever come to anythng.

      1st off I love the Republican’s controlling the NYS Senante, they’re the only checks and balances on the ever increasing agenda of the NYC Democrats who control the Assembly and are led by Sheldon Silver.

      Secondly, the national Republican Party has a term for liberal NorthEast Rebuplicans like we have in NR, something like Rhino which stands for Republican in Name Only or something close to that. They laugh at us because we don’t endorse their social platform (think of abortion for example) but rather their economic platform (less spending & tax cuts) so lable all you want. What’s in a name anyway?

   3. Two good points in this
      Brian,

      It looks like Noam will get about 6,000 votes.

      I am not fact-checking you so let me accept your numbers here…

      Registered Republicans in New Rochelle = 8,523/40,895 voters
      Registered Democrats in New Rochelle = 21,544 /40,895 voters

      Even without the various theories you offer, the Democrats hold a nearly 3:1 voter registration advantage among those registering with a major party. I think that is enough to explain why the Democrats won.

      You could also make the case that Dems under performed, right?

      What does it mean if Noam gets 6,000 out of 21,544 registered Dems?

      I also think that many non-Dems have come to believe there is nothing they can do and stay home.

      As for the idea of local v. national party, I will agree on one point. In New York there is a history of Republicans winning elections by forming “reform-fusion” tickets. I don’t know about creating a new party or having a different name but I do think that the party needs to run credible reformers on a reform platform to attract non-Dems and get a high turn out.

      What do you think?

      1. I think what you are seeing
         I think what you are seeing is the vast majority of people just don’t care anymore and thereby don’t vote. Government, from the fed on down, has been chipping away at the middle class for three decades now and we’er just about broke. No matter who we vote for, nothing changes.

         Bramson got his rich, elite, northend followers to get him re-elected because they are the only ones who come out to vote. They control the city. Funny thing though, those northenders who control the city, including Bramson, spend the majority of their time shopping and doing business in adjoining towns and not NR.

         The City has collapsed and I predict over the next four years, Bramson and the dems will drag it down further. Their plans to bond out the city yard and override the tax cap will be so costly to NR residents that it will backfire in their faces. When it comes time for re-election, Bramson will not be able to pull his usual “trash the opponent” game to win. He played that card twice, once when he ran against Ron Tocci for the assembly and then with St Paul. It is old, he will look like the slime he is if he tries that game again. In fact, I might run against him in four years just to throw the mud he slings right back at his face–and I guaruntee you it will stick this time.

   4. Sussman Screed Bigoted; Mine, Much Better
      I know the author of the above “analysis” a little and never have had reason to doubt his sincerity and salutary intentions, but his latest screed leaves one to wonder.

      Direct quote: “New Rochelle is one of the most enlightened, educated and decent communities in the USA, and I think all our residents realize this and are quite proud of the people of NR.”

      Now, I am willing to forgive all manner of human error and fatuity, but the above is a bit much for anyone to take, including Nita Lowey and Mitchell Tarnopol; it is loaded with presumption, “reasoning by conclusion” and linguistic tautology.

      To be just a little more specific; on what evidence does Sussman base his claim of enlightenment, education and decency for our New Rochelle brethren? He is silent. How does he measure our “decency” for comparison with elsewhere? He is silent. And what on earth are we to make of his assertion that aforementioned New Rochelleans “are quite proud of the people of NR?” That enlightened, educated and decent people are quite proud of, what … THEMSELVES?

      And this guy wants to “school” locals on how to analyze the body politic and help their own fortunes? I am afraid Sussman is so tormented by suspicion and hatred of anyone diffferent from himself, so apparently disconnected from any contact with streets and peoples beyond the four corners of the New Rochelle political entity that his nostrums lack absolutely any practical utility at all.

      His conclusory statements about Repubican state and national politics and politicians are also problematic. They suffer from a lack of specificity and disclose absolutely no evidence of any intellectual rigor whatsoever.

      The fact is, state and national Republicans, and also many small and large “c” conservatives and small and large “l” libertarians (and the occasional traditional Democrat without a political machine to call home) have been advocating some new, trailblazing policy prescriptions in job creation, economy-priming, educational and immigration reform, public sector union overtime abuse and pension underfunding, and other issues, both large and small. All of the ideas I have seen present sincere and legitimate attempts at curing the traditional societal ills that have continued to flummox the national Democrat party; others seek to ameliorate the wayward economic elixirs of the present White House occupant. To my experience, not one of the plans refer to anyone’s race, national origin, youth or elderliness, or attachment to science.

      And among the “primitive, bigoted and ignorant,” and “various fools” that the scribe mentions as running for the Republican presidential nomination are a professor of history and economics and author of historical novels (Gingrich), a founder of a successful chain of ethnic restaurants (Cain), a skipper of a prominent international chemical manufacturing concern and former Ambassador to China (Huntsman), a former Massachusetts governor and founder of leading entreprenurial investment source Bain Capital (Romney). Need I go on?

      The Democrat city hall apparatus has: borrowed the citizenry into permanent debtor status; pledged to subject us to $25 to 430 million more still to pay for another fat-cat’s promises over at Echo Bay; virtually promised to raise taxes in the new municipal budget by at least 10% more; consistently failed to keep the city physical plant in even decent repair; been warned by a NATIONAL ACCREDITING AGENCY that its savings rate threatens its continued recommended financial standing; faced a scathing report by the New York State’s Democrat Comptroller that its chief development arm (the IDA) keeps wretched bookkeeping accounts. And let’s face it; the Bramson administration has such a rough time earning sales tax revenues that it has to renew its confiscatory hotel tax again this year (and have you checked your cell phone bill for local, city, school sales taxes; gross receipts surcharge lately?) . Two more serious weather setbacks (two blizzards, or; one flood, one blizzard) outbreaks in the coming year, and the city won’t be able to pay its bills!

      Dear author; I wouldn’t worry to much about whether there will be enough Republicans in town in 10 years. A more likely scenario is that New Rochelle finances will be taken over by a financial control board of New York State ala New York City and Yonkers in years past. And then you won’t NEED any Republicans to bust collectivist chops over overspending!

      As for your storied New Rochelle voters; they are like the revellers on the Titanic while the old tub was going down. When the machine runs out of credulous “north enders” to rob blind with confiscatory levels of taxation (District Six alone – only 16% of our population – already pays just under 35% of the entire property tax bill citywide!), who else’s wealth is to be requistioned? Districts Four and Three? Perhaps they will take on Districts 1 and 2. Perhaps not; there will not be enough wealth in the remaining four city sectors to cover just the pension expense.

      No, the city finance office will have to appeal to the state and feds for succor; only problem is, those still living in a New Rochelle then likely to contain say, 100,000 people (!), will be taxpayers of the feds and state themselves, so the money will only be coming out of their own hides.

      But wait: we hear that “north enders” don’t mind paying taxes; even consider it their solemn obligation to undertake to pay them. Just wait. As the “prodigal sons and daughters” continue to return home from college without jobs, and home resales continue to plummet in value and volume, these “charitable passions” tend to subside. Just wait.

      1. Hey Stephen,
         I wanted to
         Hey Stephen,

         I wanted to thank you & the other candidates for running. At least you ran a campaign, unlike the candidate in my district, D3. While I thank him for running, Mr. Earvin was no where to be found on the campaign trail & look what happened. I wish there had been a much stronger candidate at the top of ticket for you as I think that would have greatly helped your run.

         Anyway, thanks & best of luck to you.

      2. To Stephen Mayo re: Sussman Screed Bigoted; Mine, Much Better
         Are you saying you disagree with my statement “New Rochelle is one of the most enlightened, educated and decent communities in the USA, and I think all our residents realize this and are quite proud of the people of NR”? This amazes me!

         So what is your opinion of the people of New Rochelle? Do you think the people are unenlightened and/or uneducated and/or indecent? I can’t believe you would feel that way, so I am totally confused at why you don’t like my quoted statement. I’m sure I must be missing your point and seek clarification and without personal attacks.

         I was only involved in Ivar Hyden’s campaign, and did not closely monitor the other elections, including yours. So other than the LWV debates, and being at the Planning Board meeting for Golden Horseshoe, I don’t know what the issues were in your Council District.

         With all respect, I must be misunderstanding you, but if as you amazingly imply, you that think the people of NR are unenlightened and/or uneducated and/or indecent, and you want to get elected it’s a major faux pas for you to admit it, let alone put it on the internet.

         I base my opinion that “New Rochelle is one of the most enlightened, educated and decent communities in the USA, and I think all our residents realize this and are quite proud of the people of NR”, on the following:

         I was born and educated here and have lived most of my almost 61 years here. I grew up from 1952-58 on Pelham Rd (CD2), 1958-72 on Rutledge Rd (CD6), and since 1972 south of I-95, mostly on Huguenot St. My grandparents and father moved to NR in 1927, so my father was also educated in New Rochelle, having graduated in 1938. My father grew up on Pershing Ave,. where my grandparents lived until the 1990’s. My Grandfather and father owned and operated a Dry Cleaning business on Drake Ave from the mid 1930’s thru 1972. My grandmother’s brother and sister-in-law lived on Stephenson for many years. My grandfather’s brother and sister-in-law lived on White Oak St for many years. My father’s brother and my first cousins lived on Lord Kitchner, as well as my uncle owning a Dry Cleaning business on North Ave near Sickles.

         This is to say, I know New Rochelle very well, and for many years, and am aware of decades of NR history from before I was born. I know from personal experience that New Rochelle is as enlightened, educated and decent as any community in the USA, and far better than 99%.

         I measure NR’s decency as having been, at least since the beginning of the 20th century, always a welcoming place for immigrants, and despite the warts of three of 12 elementary schools being racially segregated until around 1963, it has long been a better place for our African-American community than most munipalities. The Republican put a Black, Joe Evans, on the City Council around 1965, decades before the Democrats did so.

         I recall no ‘race riots’ in NR in the 1960’s even as such things were occuring in Mt Vernon, White Plains, Yonkers and NYC. When my elementary school, Davis, was ordered integrated in the early 1960’s, the all-White neighborhood did not protest this, but rather applauded it. NR is a town where everyone gets along and the people are friendly.

         Anyone educated in the NR public schools, knows our schools are superior to most public schools elsewhere. Of course the NR schools and BOE have problems, but that’s what one would expect of any school system except in fantasyland. But the quality of education is obvious. If you disagree, then I must ask you, did you attend or graduate from NR Public Schools, and if not, how can you claim to be speaking from experience?

         Steve, the election is over. I am being very generous with my postings to the Republicans who frequent TOTS. I am being non-partisan regarding NR, and am not running for office, and am merely explaining what I know and believe. I have not put you down.

         But if you agree with what the Republicans do in Washington, and you run under their party banner, how could you expect to be elected to NR City Council from District 6?

         It doesn’t matter what you advocate for New Rochelle, because the many Democratic voters in New Rochelle hate the policies and obstructions of the Republicans in Washington, and will vote against NR Republicans because of the national Republican Party link. This is obvious, and was proven by the recent NR City Council Election.

         So why do you strive to put down the people of New Rochelle? I await your answer.

         Most of the Republican candidates for President, cannot be taken serious by most American voters. I like Jon Huntsman, as he is one of the few rational, knowledgeable, experienced and appealing Republicans ruuning for President. But that seems to be why he has gained no traction among the potential Republican primary voter. Other than Huntsman, any of the other current Republican candidates, if running in 2012, will do for Barack Obama, what Richard St Paul did for Noam Bramson.

         My prediction is that Huckabee will soon announce for President, and win the Republican primaries gaining the nomination. Of course he will lose to Obama, but it will be a closer election than would occur with the laughable Perry, Gingrich, Cain or Bachmann.

         Mitt Romney’s main problem is that the national Republican Party seems to advocate a Christian theocracy, whose fundamentalist base despise Mormons, and of course he is seen as a flip-flopper. So if Mitt gets the nomination, its likely he will face Fundamentalists and Teabaggers creating a Third Party, probably called the Tea Party. This will of course give Obama a wide victory margin, and give the Dems a filibuster proof super majority in the Senate and a majority in the House.

         It looks like 2012 will be similar to 1964, for the Republican Party. Don’t you realize this? The only hope at all for the national Republicans are Huntsman or Huckabee. Huntsman is ignored by the media and potential primnary voters, and Huckabee has yet to announce.

         Steve, I assumed you were running with a pragamatic agenda for NR City Council and were merely up against a large Democratic voter base. But now that I have read your instant post, I realize you couldn’t win because you do not understand nor appreciate the average New Rochelle voter.

         If you were to reread my posts, and put your own preferences aside, you would see I am trying to be friendly and helpful here, in explaining what I believe are the actual motivation factors for New Rochelle’s voter.

         The bottom line, is that back in the days when the Republicans ruled New Rochelle, they were liberal Republicans. New Rochelle remains one of the most progressive communities around, while conservative politics gains no traction in NR except for in a few neighborhoods, and those neighborhoods are most likely to be in CD1 and CD2.

8. Are the votes valid for Phony Roberta Lopez
   I understand that “Roberta” Lopez signed up 159 people at the St.Gabriel Fair. Well, my understanding is that they many aren’t even citizens.
   ROBERTA, MAKE SURE THAT YOU HEAR ME. I WILL CHECK THOSE OUT!! EVERY ONE OF THEM!!

   1. Govtruth -please don’t go there
      This kind of nativist, ignorant commentary has no place in New Rochelle. You have no proof and there is no way that you will ever be able to prove that not even one of those voters was not a US Citizen. So stop with the hillbilly threat and move on. You probably didn’t even vote.

      1. Mr. Sanchez one way to tell
         Mr. Sanchez one way to tell is to pick out some voters registrations and compare them to Citizen lists. I am not saying that this discussion is propper nor am I saying it is right to bring it up due to the fact that Lopez and maybe the voters are hispanic. There are however things to consider.
         First it is only legal to Vote if you are a full citizen. This is not disputed. Thusly it would be a violation of the Constitution to have non citizens vote in any US election. I will state that all 4 of my Grandparents were immigrants and came via Ellis Island so I am not a decendant of the Mayflower. Lastly I will venture to say that Hispanics on the path to citizenship and who have citizenship are also greatly impacted negatively by those who have jumped the line. Many have made this a racist issue while I believe this is an issue of right and wrong.
         I sincerely hope all those that voted in every election where citizens.

      2. Please lets try to stay above that
         What’s the point? Lopez lost & Trangucci won so why belabor the point?

         You know the old saying, no use crying over spilled milk. What’s done is done besides I’m sure the board of elections throughly went over all new voter registrations.

         Govtruth maybe some wack job & has only been posting here for 4 weeks & shows that he/she has no class when they refer to Mr. Lopez as Roberta.

         Please lets try to stay above that. At least we should be able to lose with class and have some respect for ourselves.

9. Here’s a little math question for everyone.
   Here’s a little math question for everyone.

   With Spertus behind by 142 votes out of the 1372 votes tallied (68% of the total), how many votes are left to count?

   1. Fifth Ave Guy regarding % of votes left to count
      That 68% doesn’t represent 68% of votes.

      It represents 68% of the polling places (voting machines) having reported. It could be some machines might need a manual count.

      Additionally, they will still have to count the Absentee and Affidavit Ballots, and they need some time before they begin that, thanks to a grace period for mailing postmarked by November 7.

      I am unsure of which polls have officially reported. I know that some Election Districts have six or less voters, but others could have 700 or more voters.

      So the number of votes cast in any Council District, and of those counted, is unknown at this time, and in the end could be different than what we are currently perceiving. I think this is especially true in CD1, where there are uncounted voting machines but currently only a 22 vote spread between Lopez and Trangucci.

      Was that helpful?

10. unbelievable
    Wow,I cant believe some of these numbers.I watched a debate the other night and could’nt believe how incompitant Ms Rackman seemed and am in shock about her margin of victory.I hate to state the obvious but Dems will always run New Rochelle.The majority of the North End will only vote for one of their own so no matter who opposes them and how qualified they are,unless they know each other from Saturdays, they wont stand a chance.During the debate it seemed Mr Mayo really had an idea,so did Ms Spertus, but realistically Mayo had no shot.My house will be on the market beginning of Spring,I am convinced I can no longer afford to finance the Dems plans.I am VERY disappointed in the close mindedness of voters.Good luck to those who hang in there,I’m gone.

    1. Here it is plain and
       Here it is plain and simple.
       Most but not all Democrats vote for Democrats no matter what. Got it. They would vote for Hilter if he was on the Democratic Ticket.
       Democrats outnumber republicans by large numbers lets face it Republicans are going to do away with Unions, Social Security, Throw out Illegals and Throw old people into the streets. Especially in local elections. You can not completely blame the local Republican Party they are living with the above. Clearly Colty could have done a better job picking a Mayoral Candidate but St. Paul had steam and it seemed the right choice. He should be smarter and do the work.God himself would have lost on the republican ticket.
       Now we deal with a Mayor with a Super Majority its back to the Michael Boyle days on Council except we get Barry Fertels smuggness for 4 more years.
       The Cuomo Tax Cap will be overriden by Noam. We will see the Bonding of the New City Yard at a huge cost to tax payers while giving away the land on the old yard to Forest City without Forest City kicking in anything. The Armory will become a Plaque or a “here lies” the site of the old Armory Landmark. The IDA will be business as usual. Cappelli is loading up his truck to off load tax incentives into his bank accounts.
       Now we do have the ability to dig in and learn what is going on. Complain and write letters over and over to Albany and eventually we get in our cars and get in front of people. Sooner or later the little pecker will slip up and we can hold his feet to the fire.

       1. Bramson must have a plan to circumvent the tax cap.
          Property owners really lost out & the renters have won. 1 thing is for sure, the sun will come up tomorrow just like it came up today. We should also get garbage collection.

          As for Colety, he should be run out of town for putting St. Paul at the top of the ticket. Don’t forget he’s the guy also responsible for last year’s disaster candidate Jim Russell who ran against Nita Lowey. He had some hidden secret/baggage too that ended that race before it even started, much like this mayoral race.

          All Colety had to do was ask a few simple questions and this might not have been as bad as it was. Support stems from the top of the ticket down & not the other way around. Colety also has done a terrible job bringing together New Rochelle Republicans. Would it cost that much to run a website & create a propaganda machine with email blasts like the Dems have? Or perhaps throw a party to get people up, out & involved? Lou, Al or Jim should be running & guiding the local show not Colety.

          As for the tax cap, lets hope the 3 sitting Republicans unite & stick together on next years budget which Noam will release in a week or 2. Anyway, next years budget is subject to the new tax cap law and currently Noam doesn’t have a super-majority to override it. (as a side note: I still don’t understand why the budget can’t come out before the election as to after but that’s like asking the school board to use the previous years assessment roll vs. using an unknown assessment roll to be determined after the tax appeals have been decided)

          Bramson must have a plan to circumvent the tax cap though, but all can think of is deferring the final budget vote until the next council is seated or he’s going to propose draconian cuts to programs that 1 of the 3 Republicans might not want & try to break the Republicans down from that angle.

          I really do hope they stand united and force the cuts whatever they are and however unpleasant they may be and let the chips fall where they fall.

       2. Colety et al
          So, the city is on the verge of a Democrat super-majority, as is the County Legislature. Colety and his team have sabotaged another election. Do you really think anybody could be as stupid, negligent and incompetent as that group? They are nothing more than shills for the Dems. I can’t imagine any Republicans paying them any money, but they retain their leadership and deliver election after election to the Democrats. Next up is 2008..

       3. NewRoNancy has hit the nail on the head.
          You have given us ALL something to think about.

          New leadership is needed.

          Thanks for posting.

       4. NewRoNancy 2008?
          Next up 2008?

          I suspect that’s a typo.

          Did you mean to type 2012 (President) or perhaps 2015 (NR Council)?

          I presume you meant 2012.

          Here’s a clue for you, as to how to replace Colety. But will the replacement be better or just different? Next June-July collect and file a sufficient number of signatures on a Petition to run for ‘Member, Westchester Republican Committee’. You can then attend NR Republican Committee meetings, and try to replace Colety.

          I think the NR Republican problems are demographic, and very associated with most NR Voters dislike of Washington Republicans. But if you think Colety needs to be replaced, make the effort. Keep in mind Colety is also a Commissioner of the Westchester County Board of Elections.

          I presume Colety couldn’t care less about New Rochelle, as his real power is as the Chair of the Westchester County Republican Committee. He might have traded a loss in NR for a win elsewhere in the County, or even for whatever was won in NR in 2011.

          In all honesty I must point out I am a Democrat, and see the NR Republican Party as having no better success in 2015 and even less in 2019.

    2. Ease up on the Saturday
       Ease up on the Saturday comment. I attend the Young Israel, and trust me, she didn’t get anywhere near 59% of our vote. The North end definitely has a democrat problem, but that is despite, not because of it’s orthodox jews. Orthodox jews are a very conservative voting block (a fact that is pretty well established) in stark contrast to their reform brethren.

       1. Good point, I missed that and
          Good point, I missed that and agree that the comment was really out of line.

       2. Hate to belabor the point,
          Hate to belabor the point, but I have to point out that the irony about the comment is that Mayo was in the Young Israel this past Saturday! All candidates were welcome and both Mayo and Spertus showed up, as did Rackman and Fertel.

       3. No irony
          No irony as none of the candidates has control over what Ralph M says or writes. I personally wish he would remove, edit or change his comments & I think you’re well within your rights to belabor the point as there was no need for it and most find it repulsive. On that note, I extend my sincerest apologies for the comment and hope you can see past this. We all need to live & get along together.

          Most importantly though, remember those are Ralph M’s words and thoughts, not anyone else’s. I have no idea who he is or where he lives nor do I want to.

       4. Completely understood and
          Completely understood and agreed.

Comments are closed.