TIMES BEACON ENDORSEMENT

While incumbent Assemblyman Marc Alessi

and current county Legislator Dan Losquadro

agree on many issues — including the MTA payroll

tax, the desire to change the school aid formula

and the support of a tax cap — it seems that not

much is changing in Albany.

We applaud Alessi’s willingness to speak out

against government corruption, his passion for

alternative energy and his ideas about incentivizing

companies to come to New York through tax

credits. However we think it’s time for some real

solutions for the state and for Long Island.

Alessi has served in the Assembly for the last

fi ve years and, while one person cannot be blamed

for an entire state’s problems, it seems that our current

assemblyman is great at talking about the solutions

— and he has some great ones — but hasn’t

been able to do much to implement them, even

with the help of a Democratic majority. For this

reason we are endorsing Legislator Dan Losquadro

for Assembly in the 1st District.

At the county level Losquadro has proven to be

an eff ective leader and truly understands how to

attract new businesses and foster existing ones. If

he takes this experience and knowledge to the state

level — as well as continuing his commitment to

the environment and land preservation, lowering

taxes and working within the constraints of a budget

— we are confi dent New York and Long Island

will be closer to economic stability in the years to

come.

LOSQUADRO TO ALESSI: STOP DODGING YOUR REAL, FAILED RECORD

Assembly candidate Dan Losquadro today said his opponent should stop dodging his Albany record and tell the truth to the constituents of the 1st Assembly district.

“The voters of the 1st Assembly district don’t want to re-elect someone who has raised taxes and fees over 40 times during an economic crisis,” Losquadro said.   “It is wrong and misleading for my opponent to dodge his real record and represent himself to voters as a fiscal conservative, which couldn’t be further from the truth.”

As the North Fork’s representative in the state Assembly, Marc Alessi voted 45 times to increase taxes and fees by $6.6 billion on everything from salt water fishing licenses to back to school clothing and bottled water.  Alessi also voted to eliminate the STAR rebate check program, cut aid to Long Island schools by $173 million and slash funding for economic development by $450 million in this year’s state budget. 

“The North Fork deserves better,” Losquadro said.  “Long Island needs representatives in state government who will stand up and fight for their interests, instead of kowtowing to the Albany political bosses.  That’s why I am running for Assembly.  The North Fork needs a voice in the ‘people’s chamber’ who will be an advocate for their needs and interests.  I will be that representative.”

Losquadro remarked that as Assemblyman, he would work to repeal the job-killing MTA tax, cut and cap property taxes and ensure that Long Island schools receive their fair share of school aid.  Losquadro also pledged to lead the fight to bring fiscal responsibility to Albany by capping state spending, banning borrowing without voter consent and require a 2/3rds vote for any and all tax increases.

“For too long, Marc Alessi has voted with his party leadership – 92% of the time -- to the detriment of Long Island and the benefit of New York City,” Losquadro said.  “This needs to change -- Long Island taxpayers deserve better.”

Losquadro TV

http://tinyurl.com/2cupf32

Alessi Double Speak

Democrat Assemblyman Claims to Take on LIPA While Pocketing Campaign Cash From a Trustee

“NYS Assemblyman Marc Alessi, who made bashing the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) a cause célèbre has been inconspicuously absent from the public discourse about LIPA since the Democrat party took control of the Authority,” said Suffolk County Republican Chairman John LaValle. 

Apparently, Alessi’s silence is being rewarded with campaign contributions and fund raising from a LIPA Trustee.  Trustee, David L. Calone of Babylon, a lawyer and the President and CEO of Jove Equity Partners LLC, a private equity and venture capital firm is hosting a $150 per person fund raiser for Alessi at the Harborfront Inn at Greenport on October 6.

“This Trustee fund raiser raises important questions about Alessi and his campaign,” LaValle said.  “Is the self-proclaimed LIPA watchdog turned into the LIPA lapdog?  I am concerned that while LIPA continues to seek increases from our residents and ratepayers, that Assemblyman Alessi has failed to stand up for the residents of his district,” LaValle said.  “There is clearly the appearance of a conflict of interest, if not a direct conflict of interest,” he added.

“Despite Alessi’s rhetoric otherwise, LIPA has become a bloated public authority whose spending and salaries have not been reigned in,” LaValle said, “Dan Losquadro is campaigning for tougher financial disclosure requirements for elected state officials.  We need representatives in the Assembly who will create a more transparent and responsive government.  This latest mishap by Alessi clearly shows he is not as interested in the needs of his constituents as he is in the desires of the special interests.  If the people want their government back, they will need to elect individuals who are committed to serving them.”

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Alessi Votes for NYC Interests More Than LI

Marc Alessi votes with NYC and Assembly Speaker Shelly Silver more than 92% of the time. that's great for NYC and BAD for Long Island.

Greenport Maritime Festival

Dan Losquadro, center, marches in the annual Greenport Maritime Festival Parade

Local Leaders: Economic Recovery Dependent Upon End to Democrats’ Tax and Spend Agenda. Losquadro Unveils Economic Development Master Plan.

Assembly Candidate Dan Losquadro today joined NY State Senator Ken LaValle and Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter at a news conference to call for an end to the out of control tax and fee increases imposed upon Long Island by New York State Democrats who control the legislature.

“The Democrat controlled majorities have enacted more than $14 billion in tax and fee hikes over the last two years that have devastated our economy, cost us jobs, and negatively impacted our downtowns,”  said New York State Senator Ken Lavalle. “In addition to the tax increases, the Democrats also eliminated $1.6 billion in property tax relief for Long Island families.”

“During one of the worst economic downturns in a generation, the Democrat controlled legislature has given us some of the largest tax increases in state history,” said Assembly candidate Dan Losquadro.

“Incumbent Democrat Marc Alessi, despite his tough rhetoric to the contrary, voted with Assembly Speaker Shelly Silver 92% of the time. That’s good for New York City and bad for Long Island. I’ll always vote for Long Island and our interests,” Losquadro declared.

“These job killing taxes enacted by the Democrat majorities have stifled economic growth and placed enormous burdens on families and seniors living on fixed incomes. To fight this onslaught, Long Islanders need leaders in Albany with a proven record of cutting taxes and reducing spending. Dan Losquadro will be an important ally in the fight to bring fiscal discipline to Albany,” LaValle said.

“Families are hurting, businesses are struggling; yet state Democratic elected officials continue to increase taxes and fees on the backs of hard working Long Islanders. As your Assemblyman I will fight to repeal the job killing MTA payroll tax and ensure that our schools receive their fair share of state education resources,” said Losquadro.

“Changing Albany’s Democrat majority whose fiscal mismanagement and outdated policies have brought the Empire State to its knees is key to jump starting our economy,” Losquadro said.

From the MTA payroll tax to this year’s Democrat constructed state budget that slashed economic development funding by more than half, the majority leadership in Albany continues to enact policies that kill jobs and hurt Main St.,” Riverhead town Supervisor Sean Walter said.

“As town supervisor I need partners in the State Capital who will work to cut taxes, provide economic incentives for small business that will see our downtowns grow again as well as enacting policies that will strengthen the region’s tourism,” Walter added.

Losquadro said his Economic Development Master Plan for creating jobs and reviving the economy includes:

• Cut and cap state spending
• Cap property taxes and create a STAR program for small businesses
• Eliminate the corporate income tax to make New York a more competitive place to own a business, create jobs and encourage economic investment
• Ban back door borrowing through public authorities and without voter approval
• Repeal  the job killing, MTA payroll tax – one of numerous taxes that fund the State’s largest public authority
• Eliminate unfunded state mandates that increase local costs.

Losquadro explained that the Economic Development Master Plan unites our economic development efforts under one comprehensive blueprint to attract new companies and retain those here.

Losquadro also said that Albany must pass an aggressive pro-business initiative focused on removing the lengthy certification process once contained within the Empire Zones (and currently the Excelsior Jobs Program) and target mid-market companies with potential for growth statewide, including software, biotechnology, and health care companies. Losquadro said public-private partnerships should also be developed to support long-term economic growth.

According to an analysis done by Suffolk County, to date, 55 companies have been able to take advantage of the Suffolk County Empire Zone, resulting in nearly $85 million in capital improvement investments by these firms. Additionally, 15 major employers, through the Regionally Significant designation have kept over 4,200 jobs in the county and created more than 1,200. These figures do not include Canon, which will retain 1200-1300 jobs and create 700-800 when it relocates to Melville.

Alessi on Property Tax Cap: No Response

Suffolk Leaders Attend Losquadro Campaign Kick-Off

Pictured above from left: Brookhaven Town Leaders Richard Johannesen (Conservative Party Chairman) and Jesse Garcia (Republican Party Chairman), Ron Nehring (California State Republican Chairman), John J. LaValle (Suffolk County Republican Chairman) and Assembly Candidate Dan Losquadro welcome volunteers and supporters at the gala opening of Losquadro Campaign Headquarters in Miller Place on Saturday, September 18.

“Suffolk County residents need and deserve relief from the failed economic policies of the Democrat majorities in Albany,” Losquadro said. “I am pleased to see so many motivated volunteers willing to sacrifice their weekends and free time to spread our message of reform and tax relief.”

Losquadro said more than 50 volunteers and supporters gathered to collect literature, lawn signs and other campaign materials for distribution throughout the community.

Dan joined supporters, volunteers, elected and party officials earlier in the day at the campaign's Southold Headquarters in Mattituck where many picked up literature and other campaign materials for distribution in the community.

Bi-Partisan Business and Taxpayer Groups: Alessi Is Anti-Business, Anti- Job Creation, Anti-Taxpayer.

The Business Council of New York, a leading New York State business group, composed of thousands of New York small and large companies, chambers of commerce and trade associations says that New York State First District Assemblyman Marc Alessi voted for job and small business killing legislation a whopping 85% of the time. The findings are in the groups’ 2009-10 voter guide.

“In the past two years, the Democratic legislative majorities have consistently voted to tax more, spend more, and regulate more,” said Kenneth Adams, president and CEO of The Business Council of New York State, Inc. The Business Council goes on to say that there is “… a dramatic difference in the two major parties on business issues, with a significant majority of Senate and Assembly Republicans casting votes to reject new economic burdens and to support private sector investment and jobs creation, while only two Democrats sided with the Business Council's pro-jobs agenda in more than half their votes.”

“Mr. Alessi and his party – the Democrat Majority – that brought us the business-crippling MTA payroll tax are clueless about Long Island and Suffolk County’s economic and tax cutting needs,” said Suffolk County Legislator and Assembly Candidate Dan Losquadro.

“Nearly 98 percent of all New York businesses are small ones – about 1.7 million

in the state, according to the U.S. Department of Labor,” Losquadro said, adding that “more than half of all working New Yorkers earn a paycheck from a small business owner.”

Losquadro said that when elected he will push for job and business creating reforms including:

• restoring the one percent lower tax rate for small businesses
• provide a Small Business Energy Tax Reduction
• require that at least 15 percent of state contracts are with businesses employing 100 or fewer employees
• establish a Business STAR Program to make property owned by a small business (100 or fewer employees) eligible for the basic STAR benefits, reducing the property tax burden
• reduce the waiting period from 12 months to six months for eligibility in The Healthy NY program for small businesses. The program was created to help small businesses, sole proprietors and individuals acquire affordable health insurance. However, many businesses and individuals are not eligible for this program because current rules prohibit them from having provided or possessed health insurance in the past 12 months.

 The Business Council of New York’s findings come on the heels of another group's, Unshackle Upstate New York, dedicated to changing the way New York State government treats taxpayers and private sector businesses. Unshackle Upstate New York released its legislative scorecards for the 2009-10 session on August 30 and ranked Alessi a miserable 8 out of 100 on its taxpayer scorecard.

The full report card can be found here: http://www.unshackleupstate.com/scorecard-new/assembly-scorecard.cfm?card=2

“Mark Alessi is out of touch with the issues and needs of my neighbors on the

East End and in Brookhaven,” said Losquadro.

“Instead of working to create jobs, Alessi is driving businesses and young people away. Obviously, he is not listening to my neighbors who, like me, agree that enough is enough! We need someone who has a record and the will to fight for our future and our children's future, and that someone is me,” Losquadro concluded.

A Month Late, Assemblyman Joins Call For Forensic Audit of MTA. Or So It Seems.

More than a month after Suffolk Legislator and Assembly Candidate Dan Losquadro joined New York State Assembly and legislative Republicans at the Hicksville train station to demand a forensic audit of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and Assemblyman Marc Alessi have at last joined in demanding the MTA be held accountable – or so it seems.

The State Comptroller announced August 30 that he was launching a “Forensic Audit of MTA Overtime Spending,”  though makes no mention of Alessi in the posted news release.  In an undated news release sent by Alessi on September 7, he claims a joint announcement. Clearly, his claim is not accurate and comes eight days after DiNapoli’s news release and more than a month after Legislator Losquadro demanded the troubled transit agency undergo a full and transparent accounting of its financial health. 

And despite Alessi’s assertions in the campaign news release that “I have been calling for this audit for years,”  there are no news releases on his member website going as far back as September 2005 attesting to that fact.

Assembly Candidate and Suffolk County Legislator / Minority Leader Dan Losquadro, Assemblyman Michael Montesano (R,I,C- Glen Head), Dean Murray (R,C-East Patchogue), Assemblyman Andrew Raia (R,I,C-East Northport), Nassau County Legislator Rose Walker; Town of Oyster Bay Councilman Anthony Macagnone; and Lionel Chitty, President of the Hicksville Chamber of Commerce all stood at the Hicksville train station on August 2 to demand the troubled transit agency undergo a full and transparent accounting of its financial health. 

“I am glad The Comptroller and assemblyman have joined with us in calling for an audit of the MTA,” Losquadro said, “even though it is limited to overtime spending. I hope that perhaps in another month, they will join us in the call for a full forensic audit of the agency to determine how our tax dollars are being wasted.”