State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer (D-Mamaroneck) today applauded Governor Cuomo’s comprehensive Job Creation package, which includes significant reductions in the MTA Payroll Tax and state flood relief assistance for individuals, small businesses, and local governments hard hit by recent flood disasters.
Senator Oppenheimer stated, “The MTA Payroll Tax needs to be eliminated for suburban counties. The $250 million cut in the payroll tax, which is targeted to small businesses, self-employed individuals and private and parochial schools, will be of special benefit to Westchester.”
Governor Cuomo proposes to reduce the MTA payroll tax by $250 million. Specifically, the plan provides:
· Direct Tax Relief for small businesses
· Raising the exemption for self employed individuals, thereby eliminating the tax for 415,000 taxpayers
· Exempting private and parochial schools from the tax.
Under this plan, 289,000 small business taxpayers will have their MTA payroll tax obligations eliminated entirely, while an additional 5,900 small businesses will have their obligations reduced. In sum, between 65-70 percent of all MTA taxpayers will see significant relief under the Governor’s plan.
Specifically, small businesses with payrolls under $1.25 million would be exempt from the MTA payroll tax, while firms with payrolls between $1.25 million and $1.5 million would have their rate of taxation reduced from $.34 per hundred dollars to $.11 per hundred dollars. Similarly, for businesses with payrolls between $1.5 and 1.75 million, the payroll tax is reduced from $.34 per hundred dollars to $.23 per hundred dollars of payroll.
Senator Oppenheimer played a key role in protecting public schools from the MTA Payroll Tax when it was first imposed, but was unable to win approval to exempt private and parochial schools from Governor Paterson at that time. The Senator added, “Governor Cuomo has taken an important step in exempting these schools from this burdensome cost and reducing the impact of the tax on small business.”
This session, Senator Oppenheimer co-sponsored S.5596, which would have phased out the MTA Payroll Tax. The legislation passed the Senate on June 15, 2011, but was not acted upon by the Assembly before the session ended.
The Governor has also included $50 million for disaster relief and flood mitigation in response to the major floods this summer. These include:
· $9 million towards flood mitigation grants to counties
· $21 million towards disaster relief for small businesses, multiple-dwellings, non-profit organizations and farms.
· $20 million to be distributed on an as needed basis.
“I am especially pleased that the Governor is increasing the state’s role in support of flood mitigation projects,” said the Senator. “Given our needs in Westchester, I have long called on New York State to play a larger financial role in supporting these projects. This is an important step.
Thanks for the Facts, etal.
Good debate on the different viewpoints, but lets not skip over the fact that Brian Sussman provides factual data in his postings that are valuable to all of us regardless of where our leanings lie.
I think we have to take a breath at some point and understand that the world is changing rapidly before our eyes and all forms of government in a global economy need to realign and actually come up with new expressions of government. This is not academic blather; the problems are too complex for that simplistic view. Ideology is crippling us and the world be it listing toward the left or right. Not going to go much further other than to encourage this kind of dialogue and hope it takes root at all levels of government. Locally, we have a history which can point to many decades of abuse, self-absorption, and a failure to recognize both the simple (why don’t we follow the City Codeor change it) to the more complex (how can we tackle the issues around the impact of the school district’s mismanagement and slipping results on the city and its tax base, growth and evelopment plans).
Labels are useless — the terms, “democrat” or “republican” as we have known them, are no longer reflective of any degree of certainty on representation. Politics have declined to the point where they are literally a cesspool of special interests and it wouldn’t matter who got elected, the moral and ethical base all around us, nation or community, have disintegrated
Who pledges allegiance to a Grover Norquist, a fixed idealogist with no ballot box mandate? Who presents themselves as a party of the working people and is full of corruption and neighborhood payoffs? It is us… both left and right of the spectrum. So you begin again at the beginning and that is always at the root…. the family and the community.
I heard a “rumor” today that Ralph De Bart, the head of BID has received a $10,000 increase for his services to the City. No idea if it is true. But it needs to be made known as it is hard to see much value in BID as it stands. I know that the City Council must decide who and what they are so that the City has proper oversight especially in matters of policy and government management. I know that we lack substantive information on fundamental questions on City growth and development such as why we would not protect our interests in attracting a mega retailer to New Roc City by allowing without some protection, the new owners to bring in a national health chain that consumes the space that such a retailer could occupy.
My point is a simple one. Argue as much as we all would like, but that is not going to change the fundamental national, state or local concerns of building a community that is accountable to the family and individual.
So, Brian, good to see you bring factual substance to the table as well as debatable or arguable points of personal preferences. Good to see Bob’s Point or Order as well that clarifies and does not manuever the debate.
We don’t have to “all get along” as the eminent California philosopher said years earlier. We are blessed with a Constitution that permits this,, although it is fair to say that too much strict constructionism such as “corporations are people” is probably a misuse of a great document meant to be flexible and responsive by our Founding Fathers.
Society and the matters controlling or influencing all societies change and we are seeing this amply now in this period of global economics and world wide influence by the Internet on shaping and defining communications and basic freedoms.
Oh, Blago got 14 years and child molesters, rapists, and others in Illinois average 5 or so years less. Politics again!
Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, and Seasons Greetings to the best and brightest citizens we have, the TOTS correspondents. Let’s change the community and climate next year here without rancor but with clear purpose of making a better life for ourselves and our community
$20,000 raise
I heard the raise was $20,000 for the BID director
NINFRO
You heard 20 thousand more for the BID guy and he is hardly seen,unaware of the most basic issues affecting excesses in the building department, has done no substantial surveying on residents or business owners, and this comes about in a period of strict austerity.
Likely connected to dressing up the facades. Sounds like form over substance again. Put lipstick on a pig, it is still a pig. Rather see the guy gone and a current staffer assigned to his duties. He can do what Ralph has not done and Strome can hire someone to dress up the corpse.
Ok good to do this, but Jesus, a twenty grand increase for a guy who literally has done nothing except cosmetics.
To quote Herman Cain, “Shucky ducky” — I am severely depressed and might as well break out a Guinness. Would have went to the Speckled Door, but the two local lads who opened up this fine Irish Bar were redtaped and harassed out of business.
Wherever you boys are…. Slainte — which you boys of the Gaelic persuasion know means “good luck: a toast.
I’ll buy a round for any of you who continual to press for downtown business development, school board management and safety in our City. One round at Spectators in respect for my wallet and age.
Deciding Vote
If memory serves, If Suzi Oppenheimer had voted against the MTA Tax, it would not have passed. A quick google search confirms my recollection:
http://www.nfib.com/nfib-in-my-state/nfib-in-my-state-content?cmsid=55168
All you need to know
September 11, 2001 at about 11am. Suzi Oppenheimer is in the old UJA Thrift Shop on North Avenue in New Rochelle. She’s shopping as if nothing at all just happened in HER state and country. Again, that’s all you really need to know about her. She’d probably tell you now that she was trying to keep everyone calm. She couldn’t care less about the MTA tax and what an annoyance it is to small business. She does care about getting some good second hand deals.
Suzi’s never NOT voted for a tax increase
I love it when a politican votes for a tax (MTA surcharge for example) and then tries to act like they want it repealed. Suzi’s never NOT voted for a tax increase & I’m !000% sure she’ll support Cuomo’s new tax brackets.
We would have been much better served had Bob Cohen won the election & I hope he runs again. Higher taxes never created jobs, it only drains money from the system when they move and take their disposable income elsewhere.
New York state, like New Rochelle, simply spends too much and can no no longer continue with its over generous union benefits. Hey Andy, where’s the mandate relief? Pension reform?
Suzi, like Noam, is a member/supporter of the Working Families Party which was set-up to defend the benefits & interestes of public union members. Do I need say anything more?
She’s a proven tax & spend champion for the liberal cause.
Working Families Party a Joke
Speaking of the Working Families Party, they are just a bunch of OTB handicappers when it comes to politics. They suppoerted Noam Bramson, the same Noam Bramson who proposed privatization of garbage pickup when he was a council person. Let’s not forget Chairman Patti the over-priced Verizon tech who is crying about what the CEO makes. The WFP is a joke and has become a laughing stock!
The Real Political Joke
Neither Noam Bramson, nor Suzi Oppenheimer are members of the Working Families Party. They are both members of the Democratic Party. New York State Election law precludes a person from being a member of more than one political party.
I believe Jim Maisano and Al Tarrantino each successfuly ran for Office, with their names listed on Voting Machines’ Working Family line. This was despite the fact they are members of the Republican Party.
So Democrats Noam Bramson, Suzi Oppenheimer and Republicans, Jim Maisano, Al Tarrantino have been equally suported by the Working Families Party.
Furthermore, as non-members of the Working Families Party, Noam Bramson, Suzi Oppenheimer, Jim Maisano and Al Tarrantino could not sign or witness petitions to nominate themselves to run on the Working Families Party line.
Furthermore, each of these four elected officials, needed Party Certification by the Working Families Party Committee to be listed on the Voting machines’ Working Families Party line, one they had submitted Election Petitions with the required number of signatures from voters actually registered to the Working Families Party.
That differs from the same four elected officials running for office on the voting machine’s party line from Election Petitions from parties they are actually registered to (Democratic or Republican). When one timely submits to the Board of Elections, election petitions with the required number of signatures from voters actually registered to the same Party the named office seeker is registered to, there is no required party certification.
Rather the Party nomination is automatic, unless there are valid petitions from multiple candidates seeking the same Party’s nomination for the same office, with the number of Petitioners being greater than the numbers of Public or Party Offices open for election. Even then, to run in Working Families Primary, if there were one, Noam Bramson, Suzi Oppenheimer, Jim Maisano and Al Tarrantino would each need certification by the Working Families Party Committee to even run in a Working Families Primary.
The Working Families Party is not a joke, but a legitimate party whose members deliberately and knowingly chose to register to that party.
In comparison, there is in NY State / New Rochelle, a political party that is very much a joke, and that is the so-called Independence Party. It is a joke for two reasons:
1) Most voters registered to the Independence Party are unaware of that fact. Rather they thought they had registered to no party at all. But New York State uses the phrase Non-affiliated aka ‘NON’, to designate voters not registered to a political party. As such, there is a very poor turnout in Independence Party primaries, by most of its registered members, because they do not realize they are registered members who can vote in such primaries.
2) In New Rochelle, most Independence Party primary voters, are actually formerly registered to the Republican Party, but re-registered to the Independence Party to sign or witness petitions for Republicans wihsing to run on the Independence Party line. These persons, are knowingly using Independence Party as a joke, and as a tool. Most voters in New Rochelle cannot stand the National and NY State Republican Party, and simply will not vote a New Rochelle Republican into office. So unless running unopposed like Republican/Working Families candidates Maisano & Tarrantino, a Republican very much needs the support of the Independence Party line, to get elected.
And so the real joke is that the Independence Party, is not indepenent at all, but is a deliberate extension of the Republican Party.
The other joke in New Rochelle, is that with over 1/2 of its voters being registered Democrats (and increasing), and about 1/5 being registered Republicans (and decreasing), the New Rochelle Republican Committee, actually thinks it can get a majority of seats on the NR City Council or elect a Republican as Mayor.
If the members of the NR Republican Committee seriously wish to get a majority on the NR City Council, they need to rename or abandon the NR Republican Party. This will be even more true in New Rochelle, after the 2012 Presidential election, considering the extrememly poor choice of Republicans seeking that office (Jon Huntsman excluded but he won’t get that nomination because he is rational and experienced).
I’ve posted here previously that the NR Republican Committee needs to change its name. However, this would make it more difficult for them to petition, unless that new name is recognized state-wide based on the most recent election for NY Governor.
So the best course for the NR Republican Committee, is to abandon the Republican Party, and to reregister en masse, to a NY State-recognized third party such as the Independence or Working Families or Conservative Party. As most NR voters will not vote for the Independence or Conservative Parties, the best choice, of course would be for current NR Repuublicans to reregister en masse to the Working Families Party. It would totally confuse the NR Voters with Working Families Party being a beard for the Republicans. Now that would be funny.
Thanks Brian
Well thank you Brian you and your party have run this City to the ground.
There is no exceptions to that,
Party Name Blame Game
Actually, it is the Republican Party in the 1960’s, 70’s 80’s amd early 90’s that ran Neww Rochelle into the ground.
Since the early 1990’s, Democrats have been trying to clean up the mess they inherited. At this point, the Democrats and Republicans are equally to blame for New Rochelle’s commercial failure.
I think the lobbying of the construction industry with both parties, is much to blame. I say this because it appears that the construction industry is the only entity that seems to have benefitted from the last 50 years of ‘urban removal’ posing as ‘development’. If the Republicans somehow got control of NR City Hall, things would remain the same.
But you miss my point, which is that most New Rochelle voters will continue to vote against the Republican Party, no matter what policies are offered by the NR Republican Committee or NR Demicratic Committee. Most New Rochelle voters think the national and state Republican Partys’ policies suck, and most Republican Governors, Congresspersons, Senators and Asssemblypersons, are equally perceived as unreasonable if not irrational.
So even if the NR Republican Committee’s ‘policies’ were far superior to the NR Decmocratic Committee’s ‘policies’, most NR voters would still refuse to vote Republican. To this, I might add, the NR Democratic Committee has no policies, and the Democrats on the City Council create their own policies, which the NR Democratic Committee accepts (as do most of New Rochelle’s voters).
I would refer to the NR Republican Committee’s problem as the ‘Pepi Le Pew Complex’.
point of order
Brian,
Currently, 3 of the 6 district representatives on City Council in New Rochelle are Republican, 2 of the 3 County Legislators whose district include New Rochelle are Republican. The Westchester County Executive whose district includes New Rochelle is Republican. By your logic all those positions should be held by Democrats but they aren’t.
It’s All About Secret Deals Between Party Committee Chairs
Bob –
As of 2012 the Republicans will have only two members on the seven seat NR City Council.
Only one of those seats, Lou Trangucci’s CD1, was won in a contested election.
The other Republican Councilman elected this year, Al Tarantino in CD2, ran unopposed. That’s why he was elected.
Likewise, Republican County Legislator Jim Maisano ran unopposed. That’s why he was elected. In fact, Jim probably would have lost his Legislator seat if the Democrats ran someone against him, as there are far more Democrats than Republicans in Legislative District 11.
So the question is, why did Democratic Chair Arnie Klugman unilaterally decide to not run a Democrat against Tarantino or Maisano? And why did Republican Chair Doug Colety run guaranteed loser Richard St Paul againt Mayor Bramson, rather than running his most popular Republican candidates for Mayor?
The obvious answer is that if any Republican could get elected New Rochelle Mayor, its Tarantino or Maisano. But why should they risk losing an election for Mayor, when they were guaranteed reelections to their current Offices?
But then again, Tarantino and Maisano would not have been elected Mayor, because most New Rochelle Voters detest the Republican Party. And they knew it.
Regarding Marcotte beating Fitzpatrick for County Legislative District 10 in 2011, or Marcotte beating Varian in 2010, there was a different dynamic at play:
In 2010, the Eastchester/Tuckahoe Democratic Committee gave very little support to Greg Varian, because they thought they had some kind of ‘deal’ where they always get to choose the Democratic Candidate for Legislative District 10 (such as had been true with Vito Pinto). Such a deal, if it did exist was unknown to most members of the NR Democratic Committee nor to Greg Varian. That’s why Marcotte won in 2010.
In 2011, as a result of the Eastchester/Tuckahoe Democratic Committee’s poor behavior in 2010, and with the 2011 focus of the New Rochelle Democratic Committee being on the NR City Council Elections, most NR Democratic District Leaders participated very little in Fitzpatrick’s candidacy. So Marcotte lucked out twice.
Also regarding Legislative Districts 10 and 11, there are other communities (Pelham, Eastchester, Tuckahoe) involved in those elections, and those communities are more Republican than New Rochelle.
But my point was not that Republicans cannot get elected to some Public Offices in New Rochelle. Rather, it is that the Republicans cannot gain a majority on the NR Ciy Council, and at best can win three of seven seats as they did in 2007. And the blame for that is clearly laid on the national and state Republican Parties, correctly being destested by most New Rochelle voters.
Begging the Question
Brian, I suppose what you say is feasible, but to me the more interesting, even perplexing question is why the democrats failed to place someone against both of these men especially given the large margin of registered voters.
I have a different viewpoint. I think Jim Maisano would have defeated most, many all candidates placed against him. He is a proven entity, has larger than City exposure and is popular with NYS local representatives.
Tarantino is a different story. I have to believe based on observation and reflection that he is essentially a safe haven for democrats and putting someone up against him was not a priority. It is possible that a democrat down city would exercise the degree of independence that we will see from Jared and Ivar in 2012. I have no doubt that both men are realists, independent enough, and see downtown New Rochelle as a priority. I don’t get this vibe at all from Tarantino; somewhat sad since he is a business man of long standing in New Rochelle.
I will watch him and his voting record particularly closely in the upcoming year to see if he introduces any legislation consistent with a common sense strategy to grow the business district. Trangucci will, Rice I am almost sure will, and Ivar comments in the current Sound Report edition give reason to believe he is with it and will collaborate with Louis, and Jared on City issues especially as they connect to downtown and the core business district and strip. That leaves Al exposed and we will see.
You all count Noam out, but I do not. I think he will reaassess downtown and possibly see the City’s moral requirement to place a business plan against the school district. Actually it is in his interest to do so as it is well within his interest as what he is literally, “a strong mayor” despite the Code language, to take the reins on reacting to the realities of 2012 and demand more creativity and control and monitoring over his business managers, shift his focus to the demographic changes evident in the recent redistricting, and become comfortable with paradigm shifts on this business planninig and strategic vision. Obama has to at least give lip service to this at this time. Suzi will retire soon and he has a good shot at that slot providing he can straighten out the ship of state in New Rochelle. Otherwise no shot, and that is the easiest open position unless Tim Idoni moves someplace else.
Collaboration the key
I am glad people realize Noam is “acting” like a strong mayor even though the charter, which Warren is adept at quoting, defines the position of mayor as ceremonial. I pray Warren is correct in reference to collaboration as without it New Rochelle is doomed!
NRINFO has it right
NRinfo, you are right and reinforce the point I have often made on the blog. Article X of the City Code does indicate that the mayor is ceremonial and his duties and responsibilities are clearly outlined. Yet, for a number of administrations, the Mayor has acted as a “strong mayor” and I would love to see what could have been placed in an earlier referendum (about 10-15 years earlier) offering voters the option of keeping things as they are or changing over to a strong mayor.
Facts are clear — we have a strong mayor not by design but by acceptance of the City Council.
Someone on TOTS gave the most logical reason that this is being ignored by literally everyone in power or even critical of the governance. If the Code were followed as written there would be no need or justification for a high priced City Manager. Sadly, it would also mean that the Council would have to adopt difference ways of looking at their jobs meaning a lot more attention to classical policy and oversight duties. But, this is not a full-time job and it is understandable that they might have a quid pro quo with the Mayor to ignore the City Code.
So, maybe the decision point is clean up the City Code, or present a revised definition of duties for all those covered by Chapter X. Make these positions full time or otherwise rework the code to clean up the roles, relationships and responsibilities to conform to how things are done.
It is not hype, it defines a lot of the pain and frustration you feel as citizens and voters.
NR & Eastchester Dems feuding?
So let me get this straight, the NR Demon Crats and the Eastchester Democrats are feuding?
Oh Brian wrong again
Brian are you saying that Jim Maisano would have lost his seat if the democratics ran someone against him? Who would that person be?
That’s right no one the deems have no one to run against JIM as far as cd2 Noam and arnold know that Albert could go in there favor on some votes and they did not want Albert’s district coming out strong.
Detesting the GOP
Brian,
I appreciate that you despise the national GOP and that people who you associate with despise the national GOP. I could even accept the idea that the majority of people who voted in the last election despise the GOP.
However, the people we are talking about here are people like you who are loyal members of the Democratic Party. Hardcore Dems. The Base of the Democratic Party. Of course you and your associates are going to despise the GOP just as the same could be said in reverse.
The difference is what NRInfo pointed to — that the Dems have a much higher number of registered voters in New Rochelle, therefore the base within that is larger.
I do not believe, however, that you can project your own personal views to everyone else in New Rochelle. My point of mentioning the various elected officials connected to New Rochelle is only to show that if you what you say were true than there would not be any Republicans in any office since “everyone” despises the national GOP and they project that to the local level.
As for Arnie Klugman, I do not know him at all or how things work but you make him sound like a king. If we were to believe you then Arnie is working deals not only within the local Democratic Party but also within the Republican Party though Doug Colety.
What you are really describing is “appointive government” rather than “elective government” where Arnie, through proxy votes within the party and deal making with the GOP, can pick and chose who gets what elective office. In other words, its Arnold Klugman’s world and we are all living in it.
I find that hard to believe because it would mean that all the effort that goes into holding votes and conventions is all just a charade and that Klugman is ignoring not only the will of voters generally but the will of his own party.
Aren’t people like Tim Idoni and Noam Bramson powers in their own right? What about at the County level or in dealing with other local parties in Pelham or Eastchester?
With all due respect this seems a bit paranoid. I can’t imagine one person could be as powerful as you portray. I believe in elective government and whatever disagreements I might have with Arnie (and I don’t really because I have only spoken to him once — on the radio — and he was perfectly reasonable and fair in talking to me) I would expect he would too believes in elective government and not the sort of appointive government you describe.
Le Pew Complex explained
The “Le Pew Complex” you speak of comes from the Democrats putting on a condum and coating it with Ben Gay before raming the $223 refuse fee up New Rochelle’s backside to skirt Governor Cuomo’s tax cap.
Come on
Brian you say the republicans have ruined this city.Am i missing something the dems have destroyed this city the south end of New Rochelle and it’s downtown are in ruins due to the democratic control in this city.Where is the retail??? I see it in Pelham Manor,Mt Veron and yonkers Ridge Hill.OH and the best one yet is the Bronx in Bay plaza guess who is moving in there MACY’S.
That’s right MACY’S the one that left here.
Goebbels
There are politicians and there are political philosophies. If most NR voters think the national and state Republican Party positions suck, it only means the left has done a pretty good job of distortion. For example, the opinions held by many about Newt Gingrich were bought and paid for by Bill Clinton. If you think he’s mean and “bad for America,” you proudly hold an opinion created by the mind of Dick Morris and the media. The Contract With America was a brilliant platform, but was attacked as the Contract “ON” America. The left and the media never explained the actual content of the contract. All we heard was “grandma will be eating dog food.” There is no excuse in the age of the internet to be so ignorant. If you get your news from The Daily Show or Colbert Report, of course you’ll have a negative view of Republicans. Remember, Goebbels was able to convince a large majority that Jews were evil and less than human. It’s not far fetched that paid political hacks, college professors, and “intellectuals” can shape the opinions of college students or any other voter. View the following link and ask yourself some questions. Which political philosophy would this woman embrace? How could be come to this? Why is she so uneducated? Which party benefits from her? http://www.breitbart.tv/homeless-lady-with-15-kids-somebody-needs-to-pay-for-all-my-children/
Working Families Party a Joke
Thanks for the ramblings of a Noam foot soldier who mixes the Kool Aide for others. You are correct about New Rochelle registration and the fact that the chance of republicans being elected will grow more difficult in years to come. This is because of the democratic development policy which is pack people like sardines into downtown in skyscrapers. They guise this as transit oriented development but the fact is that liberal democrats make up the vast majority of NYC dwellers who reside in this climate and that’s what New Rochelle Dems work to duplicate. That’s why Jeremy Scherber is calling the shots behind the scene. Noam would never have the balls to send out the disgusting mailer about St. Paul on his own. In fact this hurt his career because he didn’t have the balls to identify his campaign paying for the dirt. The postal mark was traced back to a Long Island City Printer recommended by Sherber and used by New Rochelle Dems. Noam was caught with his pants down and was found to have committed an unfair campaign practice. You have inside baseball knowledge when it comes to politics so I wonder if you could run the registration of all registered voters from the Avalons, Trump, Blue Gill and all the newer downtown residences. I bet it will be 3 to 1 democrat at a minimum. You see it’s not about transit oriented development it’s about political power.
Now back to the Working Families Party, they are a joke. I don’t know if it’s the current procedure but the WFP charged a fee, I believe $75 for “DUES” to become a member. Political parties represent an ideology which people choose to support of their own FREE will. In national politics, republicans are seen as friends of big business and the wealthy while democrats portray themselves as supporters of the working man/middle class. Here in New Rochelle the Dems dispense charity to millionaire developers like Trump, Cappelli, Ratner and their conglomerates; Avalon, Forest City Ratner in the form of multi-decade tax abatements. There is no way these policies reflect the WFP so how could they back Idoni, Bramson and other New Rochelle Dems who have doled out corporate welfare? I believe another TOTS poster stated Bramson proposed privatization of garbage collection which would put middle class, union workers on the street yet the WFP supported Bramson. It’s all about political power and prowess that’s why the WFP is nothing more than a bunch of OTB handicappers attempting to garner votes in any fashion to bolster their political power.