The Sullivan Times - October 30, 2018 - Issue 7

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Tuesday, October 30, 2018 - Issue 7 7

Faso Escalates Personal Attacks on Delgado - Who Rips Incumbent’s Record New Monmouth Poll Puts Delgado In Lead By Five Points

Democrat Antonio Delgado, right, makes a point in Tuesday’s debate against Republican Congressman John Faso at SUNY-Sullivan.

Story and photos by Rich Klein Loch Sheldrake, October 30​​ --​​ Republican Congressman John Faso last night called Antonio Delgado “arrogant” simply for wanting to challenge him for his 19th Congressional District seat and again tried to portray the Democratic challenger as someone who just “parachuted” into the district to run. Faso repeated the personal attacks on the Schenectady native during Monday’s debate at SUNY-Sullivan - while Delgado pointed out that Faso moved from Long Island to Kinderhook in 1983 to run for his Assembly seat.

The debate was sponsored by the ​Times Herald-Record and the Orange County Citizens Foundation.

Faso grew up in Massapequa during the baby boomer years (as did this reporter) -- a town where real estate agents refused to sell homes to any African Americans and Latinos until the late 1970’s.

At press time, a new poll of likely voters issued by Monmouth University showed Delgado now leading Faso by five percentage points.

Alan Rajlevsky and his wife, Linda Rajlevsky of Kenoza Lake at debate At the latest debate between the pair, Faso also amplified his attacks on Delgado about controversial 2007 rap lyrics written by Delgado that continue to be the subject of a major ad campaign funded by a Republican-funded Super PAC (political action committee). “Those were not my ads,” said Faso, who nonetheless did nothing to distance himself from the highly-controversial ad campaign, which many have said are appeals to racism. That ad campaign, still heard on Internet streaming sites like Pandora, has been condemned by many, including former Congressman Chris Gibson as Delgado pointed out on Monday.

But Faso did not budge. “Words do matter,” Faso said of Delgado’s lyrics. Yet, throughout the debate, Faso was silent about President Trump’s own use of curse words and harsh language in his tweets and at his many campaign rallies. He also did not take the opportunity to criticize the lyrics of Kanye West, a close ally of Trump who was an Oval Office guest recently that doubled as a deskside press briefing.

West has used equally harsh language and multiple curse word in his own lyrics such as in the song “Crack Music.”

Part of the packed theater at SUNY-Sullivan Monday night for the ​Faso vs Delgado​ debate

Delgado described the ads as “divisive and grotesquely misleading and cited the many media outlets that have pulled the ads for their appeal to bigotry. Delgado further pointed out that ​The Washington Post​ even called his lyrics “wonky” since they addressed issues like Hurricane Katrina, income inequality, climate change and the war in Iraq. “The purpose of the lyrics was to empower people,” he said.

“The Congressman has consistently brought up the fact that I am somehow an outsider,” Delgado said. “Let’s be clear. I don’t hold it against the Congressman that he’s from Long Island. I was born and raised in Schenectady...raised upstate. My wife grew up upstate.”

Delgado then proceeded to rail at Faso’s three decade record, criticizing him for voting 21 times against equal pay for equal work, working as a lobbyist for pipeline companies, losing two statewide elections (Governor and Comptroller) and for his alleged role in a pay-to-play pension scandal that led to his law firm (Manatt, Phelps & Phillips) paying a $550,000 settlement to New York State in late 2010.

Asked about gun violence and the Pittsburgh shootings at a synagogue on Saturday that left 11 dead, Faso said: “The killings are a horrific reminder that anti-Semitism is alive and well.” Faso said “there are certainly people who have twisted minds perhaps influenced by social media” -- but he steered clear of any possible connection to the provocative rhetoric of the President and other public officials.

Delgado said that he and his wife, who is Jewish, attended Sunday’s interfaith memorial service at Monticello’s Landfield Avenue Synagogue. “Hate and divisiveness in this country are at a fever pitch,” Delgado said. As for gun laws, he said, in part, “I think we have to rally around areas where we have consensus.”

Elaine Cohen, who moved to Loch Sheldrake from Binghamton two years ago, said she is a “political junkie” and that’s why she attended the debate. She supports Faso but thinks Delgado is “a fabulous speaker and very bright.” But she expressed concern that he “didn’t walk back his lyrics even though he did explain that it’s an art form. “In these times, we have to be inclusive, not divisive,” Cohen said.

Asked about Trump’s own divisive language, Cohen said “he’s a New Yorker. You take him seriously but not literally.” Cohen criticized Trump for seeming to blame the victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue attack, adding “but everyone knows the soft targets need protection.” Back to Delgado, she said he talked too much about the “income inequality business.” She said that “I do feel there’s income inequality and I do feel it’s more acute, but when he (Delgado) talks about the tax cuts, the rich people pay more so they can

Loch Sheldrake resident Elaine Cohen after debate

get more back. “ She praised Faso for being behind “fabulous legislation that has passed” and said the country needs more jobs and infrastructure. Alan Rajlevsky, a Democrat, said he met Delgado at Tavern on Main in Jeffersonville and was very impressed with his presentation. “I think he’s a straight forward and honest guy,” he said. “I don’t think he has an axe to grind and I think he really cares about making the individuals of our County have a voice.” As for Faso, he said, “I don’t think Faso has been honest with respect to healthcare coverage. And I’m not voting for him.” Linda Rajilevsky said she had long been registered as an Independent but switched to the Democratic Party very recently “in response what’s been happening nationally. I’m just disgusted with Donald Trump and his rhetoric and I really feel that I can’t stand on the sidelines any longer like many women I’ve talked to. So I changed so I can vote in the general election.

She added that she’s “very concerned about ​Roe vs Wade.​ .it’s hugely important to keep that on the books. She also supports the #MeToo movement.” But she added that while she was impressed with Faso at the debate, “I find Delgado’s voice refreshing. This is the kind of person we want in Congress to restore our faith in government.’’

Rabbitt, Metzger Show Little In Common As They Seek To Replace John Bonacic

Story and photos by Rich Klein Middletown - ​Whether the issue is education, legalization of marijuana, abortion or immigration, Republican Annie Rabbitt and Democrat Jen Metzger showed in there recent debate that there is little that they agree on.

The pair squared off October 23 in a debate at Middletown High School to win the hearts and minds of voters to fill the 42nd State Senate District seat vacated by John Bonacic, who held it for two decades. Republicans currently control the Senate with a one-vote majority, which is why this race could flip control back to Democrats if Metzger wins on November 6. The election is historic because a woman will hold the seat for the first time in the District’s history.

On a women’s right to choose, Metzger said she is “100 percent pro-choice” while Rabbitt’s position -- based on a questionnaire she filled out while serving as an Assemblywoman -- is against abortion, even in the case of rape, incest or a medical danger to the mother, according to the website Votesmart.org.

Rabbitt also asserted that marijuana is a gateway drug, meaning its use leads to people using more deadly drugs. Metzger, though, said there are many studies that prove otherwise. Rabbitt dire receive cheers from her supporters when she announced that she is against the state providing higher education scholarships to undocumented immigrants known as “dreamers” under a currently stalled bill known as the New York State Dream Act. The New York State Catholic Conference is among supporters of the bill. Metzger said she supports public education and the bill, which has passed the Assembly but has stalled in the State Senate, adding that she was fortunate to have access to a college education herself and wants it for others.

The audience at Middletown High School on October 23 for the debate between Democrat Jen Metzger and Republican Annie Rabbitt

After the debate, Republican Assemblyman Karl Brabenec said:: “I think Annie did very well. Property tax reform is absolutely huge in my district and in the Senate District. People are leaving and it’s not because of the weather.’ Brabenec praised Metzger’s performance, too, but said “she’s a big supporter of single-payer healthcare and that’s going to raise everyone’s taxes. It’s not the right way to fix the healthcare issue in New York.” Brabenec also didn’t hide from the fact that the Senate could flip to Democratic control. “I know how it is being in the minority in the Assembly,” he said.

Karl Brabenec

“It’s difficult to get legislation passed. I’ve seen a lot of leftist, almost socialist legislation coming out of the Assembly which if the Senate goes Democratic, will fly right through.’’

Orange County Legislature Minority Leader Michael D. Paduch, a Democrat who lost to Rabbitt by about 3,000 votes in their 2006 race for the New York State Assembly, said that Metzger is “a very strong candidate with all the right issues under her belt and I think we need somebody like that in Senate.” Paduch also pointed out that Rabbitt recently was a no-show to a key Orange County Legislature budget meeting concerning the $1 million-plus budget for her County

Michael D. Paduch

Clerk’s office. Last Thursday, Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther issued a statement supporting Metzger. “Jen is a true champion for our environment and for healthcare for all. Time and time again, the Assembly has passed bills to help protect our environment and to guarantee everyone in this state has access to the healthcare coverage they need. I'm looking forward to working with Jen in the Senate next year to ensure these bills get to the Governor's desk for his signature.” Gunther, who did not endorse Metzger or her primary opponent Pramilla Malick in the Democratic primary, attended the debate. The debate was sponsored by the ​Times Herald-Record and the Orange County Citizens Foundation.

$54 Million Dollar Capital Bond Referendum Up For Vote on November 14

MONTICELLO ​- After two failed attempts last year, the Monticello Central School District on November 14 will put a referendum to voters to pay for critical infrastructure repairs -- but this time the number is much smaller at $54 million. Polls around the district will be open that day from 8 am to 8 pm.

“The District's facilities need more than $100 million worth of repairs in order to keep them safe, functional and conducive to learning,” the Board of Education says on its website. “If the District can bond out a project by the fall of 2018, it can fund $54 million of these repairs with 0% impact to the tax levy. This is possible because the $54 million proposed bond would replace the bond that voters approved in 2000 to finance the construction of the middle school. Since 2000, the District has repaid this debt as part of its annual budget calculations and in 2019, it will be fully paid off. The District has a short window of opportunity to replace this expiring bond with a new bond, preserving state aid. If the District does not replace the expiring bond with a new bond, it will lose state aid on any necessary repairs that exceed the annual aidable maximum ($100,000). Without an approved capital bond referendum, these expenditures, when needed, will impact the tax levy.”

Residents of the school district who already vote in general elections are already eligible to vote in school elections.

The basic requirements for voter registration are: • U.S. citizenship • 18 years of age or older at the time of the vote

• Residency in the school district for 30 days or more prior to the vote (Oct. 14, 2018) Those who are not registered to vote may register at any of the schools within the district as well as the district office. Go to the building secretary in the main office of any of the schools or to the school district clerk with the following documentation: • Picture ID • Proof of address • Document to prove 30-day residency (for example, utility bill) Locations for voter registration: • Emma C. Chase Elementary School, 28 Pennsylvania Ave., Wurtsboro (polling site) • George L. Cook Elementary School, 69 Richardson Ave., Monticello • Kenneth L. Rutherford Elementary School, 26 Patricia Place, Monticello • Robert J. Kaiser Middle School, 45 Breakey Ave., Monticello (polling site) • Monticello High School, 39 Breakey Ave., Monticello • Administrative Office, 237 Forestburgh Road, Monticello Office hours at the middle and high school are 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; elementary schools from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and at the district office from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

There is also a Voter Registration Day scheduled for Nov. 7, 2018 at all polling sites from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

• RJK Middle School • Chase Elementary • Duggan Elementary • Rock Hill Fire Department • Forestburgh Town Hall

Jacques Pluss, Charged in Jeff Arson, Plead Guilty To Bias Intimidation in 2012 & Received Probation Prosecutor: Ridgewood, NJ Home Filled With Nazi Relics

Jeffersonville​​ - Jacques Pluss, a notorious neo-Nazi who was recently arrested in connection with arson charges at the Jeff Country Store here was convicted in Bergen County NJ on a bias intimidation charge in 2012, according to a document obtained by ​The Sullivan Times​ this week. Pluss appeared in Town of Callicoon Court before Judge Edward T. McKenna recently and managed to get his bail reduced from $25,000 to $15,000 in connection with arson charges stemming from a September 29 incident at the Country Store. That’s when Pluss was allegedly seen on surveillance video in the back of the Jeffersonville Country Store/Sunoco station attempting to set the propane tanks on fire. Sullivan County Sheriff Michael Schiff was in the area and responded; Undersheriff Eric Chaboty would not provide further details.

The grand jury charge from New Jersey Superior Court reads as follows: “Between on or about November 13, 2010, and on or about January 4, 2011, at the Village of Ridgewood, in the County of Bergen...with purpose to intimidate an individual because of religion, did commit the crime of harassment..that said JACQUES PLUSS did make communications in offensively course language or in a manner likely to cause annoyance or alarm to “A.F.” (ADL Director Abraham H. Foxman)...”

Attorney Asha Vaghela, who prosecuted the bias case in Superior Court of New Jersey against Pluss, told ​The Sullivan Times​ that Pluss had made anti-Semitic threats via the Anti-Defamation League’s online portal multiple times. “There was an effort made to tell him that it was unacceptable but he chose to do it again, “ Vaghela said. “That’s why the prosecution was undertaken.” She said that Pluss admitted to law enforcement that he indeed send bias materials to ADL and that helped result in the plea deal in which Pluss received probation.

Vaghela said that she personally visited the Pluss home during the investigation and was “amazed” at how much Nazi paraphernalia was in his home. His wife, Jessica D. Stevens, who lived with Pluss in Ridgewood and now in Sullivan County, has refused comment on the most recent incident as well as the bias intimidation charge in New Jersey.

At press time, attempts to reach District Attorney Jim Farrell about the case were unsuccessful and no date has been set for a trial, according to Jacqueline Graham, the clerk of the Town of Callicoon Justice Court. It’s believed that part of what led police to Pluss was his October 1 post (above) on his Facebook page talking about the incident.

- Rich Klein

EDITORIALS Antonio Delgado for Congress In the race for the 19th Congressional District, ​The Sullivan Times​ endorses Democrat Antonio Delgado over Republican incumbent John Faso. Frankly, we like what we heard from Faso on multiple foreign policy issues in our recent exclusive interview with him. He understands clearly the dangers that North Korea, Russia, China and Iran pose to the United States. He even described Russia as a criminal enterprise.

But, his embrace and defense of a President who constantly mocks, belittles and lies is unacceptable. (Trump tweeted out an endorsement of Faso last week).

And Faso’s own failure to reign in what were clearly appeals to racism in Super PAC ads against Delgado was equally disappointing. Faso knows better. He spent his childhood at a prestigious Catholic school in Queens, NY that presumably taught kids about morals. But he also grew up in Massapequa, NY, the same town (and the same time period) as the publisher of this media outlet. And while Massapequa did have a “Happy Days” and “Leave It To Beaver” quality about it, it also prevented people of color from living there until the late 1970’s-- and even then we had so very few. Faso also recently went out of his way in a debate to vehemently attack those who criticized the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh while completely ignoring the allegations and pain of Dr. Christine Ford, which echoed with women across the country who have been raped and/or sexually assaulted.

What’s more, the many domestic policies that Faso also embraces would do the most harm to the most vulnerable in Sullivan County: low income earners and the middle class. Faso has also spent way too much time on his pet “scaffolding law” as a favor to his donors from the construction industry, even bringing it up at Monday’s debate. What his law would do, though, would prevent construction workers from laying any liability on developers if workers get seriously hurt or even killed in a construction accident. That’s not a friend of blue collar workers at all, a group he tries so hard to appeal to.

A member of Congress has to be accessible to citizens. Instead of holding town halls, Faso has mostly hid from public meetings, choosing instead to hold carefully-controlled conference calls that were impossible to sign up for when we tried more than once ourselves. Only in recent months on the campaign trail, has Faso showed up more -- but his campaign rarely announces in advance any of these small meetings with supporters. And his charges that Delgado is not “from here” is disingenuous. Faso moved to Kinderhook from Long Island in 1983 so he could run for an open Assembly seat. Delgado actually grew up in Schenectady, just beyond District 19’s borders as the son of

General Electric employees. And, when Faso accuses Delgado of taking money from outside the district, he needs to acknowledge that Vice President Mike Pence hosted a $25,000 per person fundraiser for Faso - not here in the District -- but in Manhattan just a few weeks ago.

Finally, we quote from Greg David, the longtime editor of ​Crain’s NY Business ​who said this about Faso last week: “​The moderate Republican I once knew now supports President Donald Trump 90% of the time. The 10% comes primarily because he voted against the

Republican tax cut. It would be better to say, however, that the Republican leadership allowed him to vote against the bill because they had enough votes to pass it without him. On the Affordable Care Act, Faso voted for repeal after a cynical maneuver that would have required New York state to pick up the local share of Medicaid. Washington has no business telling New York how to pay for Medicaid, but it would have resonated with Hudson Valley voters unhappy with the way local Medicaid costs drive up property taxes.

I guess Faso is merely embracing the tactics Republicans are using, especially in competitive races.”

As for Delgado, he genuinely expresses concern for the working class and middle class who have largely been left behind after the 2008 recession and Republican policies since Trump took office. He favors protecting women’s access to healthcare and is pro-choice. And while there may have been confusion in some circles about where exactly he stood on healthcare, his position is drastically more compassionate than Faso’s, which would give power back to insurance companies and return us to the Dark Ages of kicking people out of healthcare for real and imagined pre-existing conditions. Once Delgado won the Democratic primary over six opponents, he has spent much time in Sullivan County and surely has learned much about the challenges faced by those living and working here. We wish he would have shown up more during the primary season, but he has more than compensated in recent months with multiple visits to Monticello, Liberty, Callicoon and Jeffersonville. He even showed up Sunday for a vigil service (organized on very short notice) on behalf of the victims of the synagogue massacre in Pittsburgh. We are confident that his doors will always be open to all constituents, not just those who support him. He is a person of real substance, a quick study of issues and speaks with compassion -- and that’s what is needed in these turbulent times in our County and our Country.

We do wish that Delgado spent more of his campaign discussing critical foreign policy issues and, in that regard, there are some unknowns.

But President Bill Clinton also came into office heavy on domestic policy experience but with very little foreign policy positions - yet he later helped stop the genocide in the former Yugoslavia. As for the recent controversy about Delgado’s comments regarding Israel, we heard Delgado and it’s clear he is a strong supporter of Israel. His view that Israel can only remain a Jewish democracy if it ceases or reduces settlement activity is one that many Jews in Israel and abroad also believe.

Finally, this District needs fresh thinking. Delgado is 41, old enough to have some wisdom but not too young to not have sufficient life experiences to understand the needs of a varied constituency. And the fact that he is a person of color leads us to believe that he has endured the kind of bigotry that Trump and Republicans like Faso continue to promote. Let’s send Delgado to Congress not because he is a progressive Democrat, not because he’s younger, or because of the color of his skin. Let’s send Delgado to Congress to send a message that Sullivan County hungers for a real advocate in Washington who will represent ALL its people before corporations -- and who will be a much-needed check on a President who has demonstrated, day after day, that he remains woefully unfit to lead.

Jen Metzger For State Senate In the 42nd State Senate District race for the seat vacated by John Bonacic, ​The Sullivan Times endorses Democrat Jen Metzger (Ulster County) over Republican Annie Rabbitt (Orange County).

Yes, Rabbitt has many years of experience in Albany but her voting record demonstrates a clear disconnect from Sullivan County, and frankly, much of the District. While serving in the New York State Assembly, Rabbit voted against an increase in the minimum wage to $8.50 from $7.50. She voted against microstamping certain firearms that would make it easier to trace them if they were used in the commission of a crime. And, in 2010, she voted against a bill that prohibited domestic violence offenders from purchasing firearms. Frankly, we’re surprised that her good friend Sheriff Michael Schiff would be against such common sense legislation aimed at getting guns off the streets. Rabbitt is against abortion in ​any ​situation, even in the event of rape, incest or the health of the mother. That struck us as the most disturbing of all her positions, especially since ​Roe v Wade​ could now be vulnerable with the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Rabbitt’s biggest donors came from outside the district in the form of twin $10,000 donations from the New York City-based Rent Stabilization Association, which is the biggest lobbying group of landlords in New York State. So we can’t imagine her showing much sympathy for the plight of low income and middle class residents who are renters in the County. Metzger also has some big money from outside the district but mostly from environmental groups and those who support those particular causes. Metzger has worked hard and has made herself well known in Sullivan County from the moment she entered the race in the primary. She is well-versed on the challenges that are faced by farmers, by families of opioid addicts and by families of all shapes and sizes struggling to pay for medications and healthcare and those who need more access to quality education. She also knows that the future of tourism in Sullivan and in her nearby Ulster County can’t depend entirely on the success or failure of a casino. Finally, Metzger not only issued a statement in the immediate aftermath of the Pittsburgh synagogue murders, but attended a memorial service on behalf of the victim’s last Sunday afternoon in Monticello. Contrast that with Rabbitt, who at press time had not issued ANY statement about the anti-Semitic shootings, and who -- on the same day of the massacre -- attended a local fundraiser for the National Rifle Association with John Faso.

The Sullivan Times Editor & Publisher: Rich Klein PO Box 502 Jeffersonville NY 12748 sullivancatskillstimes@gmail.com Follow Us On Facebook and Instagram