Commentary on today’s news and opinion, from readers and newsmakers.
Rockland County’s image took a hit Thursday when Moody’s Investors Service lowered its credit rating because it’s short $40 million. What LoHud.com readers had to say:
News of Moody’s lowering Rockland’s credit rating confirms what virtually every Rockland County resident has known for many years: Rockland is poorly run; there is a duplication of services (how many separate police forces, highway and other departments etc. do we have for 300,000 residents?); county government is bloated with highly paid politically appointed commissioners and other high-ranking officials. Yet County Executive Vanderhoef’s answer to all of it is to simply raise taxes again. Thanks to the sound judgement of Sen. Carlucci, that time has ended. Can anyone point out what the county executive has accomplished in the past two decades besides building the monstrosity of the Palisades Center Mall? How many of his cronies wound up in jail in connection with that mall? Remember how the mall was presented as a means of reducing property taxes? Pretty funny, huh? As many others have pointed out, it’s time to cut costs, pure and simple.”
— Bennett Pine
Why is it fiscally irresponsible to continue spending, but not to raise the sales tax? We never had a county exec until the Brinks Robbery, and 30 years later I still fail to see the need for one. Mr. Vanderhoef, perhaps you could enlighten me as to exactly what you do and why we can’t live without you?”
— David Rose
Disgraceful — time to vote out all of the incumbents and get people in who will do their jobs.”
— Florence Ciaramella Zuvich
Just as in corporations and banks, government is no different. Greed put us here!”
— Robert Spataro
Most popular story on LoHud.com: Moody’s sinks Rockland’s credit rating, now lowest-rated in New York.
Trending on Twitter: J.P. Morgan’s Jamie Dimon: “Just because we are stupid doesn’t mean everybody else was.” on.wsj.com/J5b1EL
— JP Morgan, JPM and
The JP Morgan Chase revelations after hours were not a complete shock. Do people really want less regulation? How could it get much less?
— Tom S (@TomSportshq) May 10, 2012
— Today is Friday. No explanation needed, right?
What are you talking about today? Leave your answer in the comments below.