Here’s a look at opinion content published today, Friday, Oct. 22:
George Latimer: Endorsement
In the race for the 91st state Assembly, we think voters would do well to return George Latimer, a pragmatic realist, to Albany. His opponent is Bill Reed, who is running on the Republican and Conservative lines. We write:
… Latimer, who served on the Westchester County Board of Legislators and the Rye City Council before moving up to the state Legislature, provided thoughtful analysis of why so many things don’t get done in Albany.
The much-ballyhooed “dysfunction” in the Legislature, Latimer said, has more to do with policy disagreements than the structure or mechanics of the body. Those disagreements very often involve various factions of lawmakers.
He noted, by way of example, the concerns of legislators from New York City, where property taxes are low and need for social services high. He said their concerns differ from those of legislators who represent the suburbs and upstate, where property taxes are crushing.
“In Brooklyn, do the right thing means one thing. In Rye Brook, it means another,” Latimer told the Editorial Board.
The state needs a strong governor, which it has been missing for some time, he said, in order to push though major issues, such as a property tax cap, which Latimer would support if it were coupled with some mandate relief. …
Ellen Jaffee: Endorsement
Ellen Jaffee, an incumbent Democrat from Suffern, gets our nod in the 95th state Assembly district race. Jaffee is chanllenged by Thomas Morr, a Republican and former Orangetown councilman. We write:
… Jaffee said the state must take control of its finances. She said, however, “I don’t take the position to cut everywhere and cut everything … we must provide child care, health care, community services,” as well as provide more funding for schools. Jaffee has sought cost-cutting measures big and small, including streamlining forms for various government agencies, saving time and expense. “It’s complicated,” she often says. Jaffee is known for wading into the minutiae of public policy and figuring out where the problems lie. But her constituents — and voters throughout the state — want action on taxes. …
2010 Candidates: Cartoon
Matt Davies comments on the sometimes disappointing crop of 2010 candidates.