CIVIC DUES
June/2012 send $5.00 for your new membership/renewal, (if you haven't already done
so), to:
Sunset City Civic Association 630 Interlaken Lane, North Babylon NY 11703.
Make check payable to Sunset City Civic Association.
**Sunset City
Civic's GARAGE SALE**
Sat/Sun June 9th & 10th -10am - 4pm.
Put your signs out!
SCHOOL BUDGET VOTE: Tuesday May 15th 2012.
Check your assessment on your Tax Bill to see your actual tax increase. Example: $4.86 X
3700 = $179.82 – Bus Proposition: .57Cents X 3700 = $21.09 combined is
$179.82+$21.09=$200.91. I recommend voting YES on both. If you vote No on the budget, then
I strongly recommend that you vote YES on the Bus Proposition, because we receive a 40%
return from the State!!!
POLITICS: By Vincent Sciacca
On behalf of myself and The Sunset City Civic
Association, I would like to extend our congratulations and best wishes to Steve Bellone
upon his election as Suffolk County Executive. Steve is facing enormous budget challenges,
and we are confident that County Executive Bellone will approach these challenges in a
forthright manner, as he has done as Babylon Town Supervisor, and bring them to a just
resolution. Congratulations also to Lou D'Amaro, upon his election as Suffolk County
Legislator. Legislator D'Amaro has been an ardent supporter of our civic association and
we were pleased to support him in his election bid.
I fully support Richard Schaffer's selection as
interim Babylon Town Supervisor, and strongly urge you to support him this coming
November.
Also keep in mind, our dear friend Owen Johnson,
who will be up for re-election this coming November. Senator Johnson has always been a
strong supporter of our community and worthy of your support this coming November.
We should all be very pleased to know that North
Babylon has now been incorporated into Congressman Peter King's Congressional district.
Congressman King's reputation needs no introduction. He has been an excellent Congressman
both for our district and our Country. I strongly recommend that you give him your support
this coming November.
ALMOST HOME PROGRAM: By Vincent Sciacca
Almost Home Program is one of the best run programs
anywhere. I would like to congratulate Toni Tatti and Sal Guadagnino for putting together
such a great program. Most appreciative are the parents who rely on this program for child
care (AM & PM).
For parents who work knowing, that their children
are well cared for, and most of all, are in a safe environment overseen by qualified and
trusted community employees gives them a sense of security. And let's not forget the
reasonable cost to the parent/parents. P.S. my granddaughter spent this last year in the
program and she would often tell me not to pick her up early. It's a place where they can
spend time with their friends and relax and have some fun, especially after being in
school all day. As the program is called "Almost Home" the children experience a
home-like environment thanks to Toni Tatti, Sal Guadagnino and their staff. For the past
24 years they served our community well. Again, many thanks.
If you want more information you can
call Tony Tatti @ NBCYS 422-0333
SUFFOLK COUNTY SUGGESTED POSSIBLE
SOLUTIONS: By Vincent Sciacca
Suffolk County is no longer considered a rural
community. Therefore, we should be considering consolidation.
(1) The County should consider consolidating the Sheriff's Department,
Corrections Department, and Village Police Departments with the "Suffolk County
Police Department". (This has been very successful and cost effective in NYC).
(2) All Towns should be taxed for Police services.
If certain Towns want protection above and beyond that provided by the Suffolk County
Police Department, they can create a Public Safety program like the Town of Babylon has,
which has been very successful.
(3) Another area to consider is the consolidation of water districts in Suffolk
County.
They should be consolidated under the Suffolk County Water Authority.
(4) Suffolk County should not be in the Nursing home business, sell it, and
privatize it.
(5) Suffolk County should also GET OUT OF THE "OTB" (Off Track Betting)
business, privatize it.
Many of my friends including myself attend OTB practically daily; and trust me; they have
no idea how to run a gambling parlor profitably.
(6) Pensions should only be based on your Salary period. (Overtime, sick days,
vacation days, should NOT be included in determining your final pension).
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: BY Anne Swanton
Lindenhurst, NY (South Bay 2/8/2012)
To all the inept voters who voted
"yes" for the school budget last May in Lindenhurst (7% increase), "Happy
New Year!"
Throwing money at education does not work, as
we are not turning out scholars by any means. The only ones getting gratified are the
teacher's union and administrative jobs, many of which we could do without.
The teacher's union blasts us every year at
budget time that, if the budget does not pass - How the children will suffer! - when the
truth is, keep the money coming in for salaries, benefits, etc. If the teachers and
coaches are so worried about the children, let them put their hands in their pockets. (I
did not see any give-backs from Lindenhurst teachers, like some other school districts.)
School budget voting is the only voting process
that the voter can truly control the outcome of. If some things have to be cut in these
hard times, so be it! Means to an end: Consolidate districts, superintendents, have only
property owners vote (not renters), overhaul pension plans and benefits, etc.
Hold on to your hat! This year, you will be
inundated with propaganda from the district and union with the 2% tax cap. A school
closed, enrollment is down, and taxes are twice as high. Wake up!
NORTH BABYLON SCHOOL BUDGET FOR 2012: By Vincent
Sciacca
Initially I was against the school budget on
principal, regardless of the increase. Since the State increased our aid package by over 1
million dollars, and our school Administration along with the Board of Education's
decision to reduce the Tax Budget by that amount, caused me to have a change of mind on
the issue. Like the above mentioned article, our own teachers union has also refused to
give anything back to the tax payers. Yet, to their credit, the teachers of North Babylon
were willing to agree to some give-backs. The teacher's contract expires in June;
hopefully our School Board and Administration will be able to negotiate a reasonable
contract in light of the economic climate that exists today.
NORTH BABYLON LONG RANGE SCHOOL PLANNING COMMITTEE:
By Vincent Sciacca (Alternate)
After meeting with Ms. Godek, Mr. Carambia, Pat
Demery "Sunset City Civic's Representative" of the Long Range Planning
Committee, we realized that many areas of the budget were scrutinized, in an effort to
keep the budget within the 2% cap. Try as we may we were unable to stay within the strict
2% cap (actual cap 2.14%).
The district is now moving forward, with the above
committee, to make significant changes in the coming years. Any future changes must be
made with two criteria in mind: "Educationally sound and Cost effectiveness".
My hope is that some of the following will be
considered by the committee:
(1) The sale of 5 Jardine place, and the relocation of the Administration building and
Business offices to Robert Moses Middle School.
(2) Security costs should be brought under control.
(3) Since enrollment is down, necessitating the possible closing of one or two Elementary
schools, consideration should be given to the "Princeton Plan". There are
currently 3 schools in Suffolk County that have implemented the Princeton Plan; Babylon,
Commack and Smithtown, with excellent results.
(4) Consideration should be given to the installation of solar panels in all of our
schools. (The High School has some solar panels already). Some school districts already
have fully functioning solar energy.
If you have any suggestions you can e*mail them to
me at: vsciacca1@optonline.net.
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