Important Letter from our Fire Chief
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As the time change approaches on Sunday, November 7, the Scarsdale Fire Department wants to remind residents to make another change that could save their lives: changing the batteries in their smoke detectors.
Communities nationwide witness tragic home fire deaths each year. An average of three children per day die in home fires and 80 percent of those occur in homes without working smoke detectors. Non-working smoke detectors rob residents of the protective benefits home fire safety devices were designed to provide. The most commonly cited cause of non-working smoke detectors is worn or missing batteries.
Changing smoke detector batteries at least once a year is one of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce these tragic deaths and injuries. In fact, working smoke detectors nearly cut in half the risk of dying in a home fire. Additionally, the International Association of Fire Chiefs recommends replacing your smoke detectors every 10 years.
To save lives and prevent needless injuries in Scarsdale, the Scarsdale Fire Department has joined forces with Energizer and the International Association of Fire Chiefs for the 22nd year of the Change Your Clock Change Your Battery® campaign. The program urges all Americans to adopt a simple, lifesaving habit: changing smoke detector batteries when changing clocks back to standard time each fall, this year on November 7.
“The peak time for home fire fatalities is between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. when most families are sleeping,” says Fire Chief Thomas Cain. “Smoke detector maintenance is a simple, effective way to reduce home fire deaths. Children and senior citizens are most at risk, and a working smoke detector can give them the extra seconds they need to get out safely.”
In addition, Chief Cain recommends residents use the “extra” hour they save from the time change to test smoke detectors by pushing the test button, planning two ways out of their home, and practicing escape routes with the entire family. Families should also prepare a fire safety kit that includes working flashlights and fresh batteries.
Thomas M. Cain Chief of Department
50 Tompkins Road Scarsdale, NY 10583
Tel 914-722-1215 Fax 914-722-1214
Letters in Support of Amy Paulin
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To the Editor: We are members of the Democratic and Republican parties. We each work to do what we think is best for Scarsdale. We don't always agree on how to get the job done, but we do agree that mere partisanship will not get the job done. That is why we are both supporting Amy Paulin’s reelection to the Assembly. When Amy sees a problem that needs to be fixed, she does not stop to consider the party membership of those who can help her accomplish her goal – be it on matters of reform, education or protection of our communities. Nor is she afraid to take a position that does not sit well with the party leadership. Just this term Amy voted against a leadership proposal to borrow billions of dollars to close the budget shortfall. She also refused to take member items during this economic crisis. Although Amy has used member items in the past to help to fund the restoration of Wayside Cottage, the new SVAC headquarters, and the renovation of the train station among other things, she is one of the few legislators who recognize that we are living in different times and that the system is sorely in need of reform to make it fair, transparent and free from conflicts of interest.
We understand that people are fed up with government in general. But we hope that Scarsdale residents can distinguish between the politicians who are in it for themselves and Amy who is in it for us. Do not assume that your neighbor will take care of sending Amy back to Albany. Please make sure you get out and vote on November 2nd.
Alan Goldston, Democrat, 164 White Road, Scarsdale 914-472-5193
Mark Hershey, Republican, 11 Brayton Road, Scarsdale 914-725-1725
Dear Scarsdale10583: Having held elected positions in Scarsdale's non-partisan system, and as a former President of the League of Women Voters, I came to know and respect Assemblywoman Amy Paulin. She is the quintessential grass-roots politician, and she is our neighbor. Thus, she has first hand knowledge of the needs of our pristine hamlet, and represents our interests with vigorous advocacy . She and I both performed community service in the League of Women Voters and, therefore, were schooled in the art of achieving consensus. She is an effective legislator, and is in the top 3% for passing bills and sponsoring legislation. During her tenure in public office, Paulin increased State aid for education in the District to $30 million. I endorse Assemblywoman Paulin's support of much needed reform measures, such as the creation of an independent ethics oversight agency, for both the legislative and executive branches of government. Paulin protects every woman's right to choose. I can not think of anyone else who could better represent Scarsdale, than Assemblywoman Paulin, and I urge all of you to support her and get out the vote this Election Day.
Marcia Kusnetz
In Support of Rene Atayan
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It is time to get rid of Amy Paulin and to replace her in the State Assembly with Rene Atayan. Paulin is a five-term incumbent who has voted 99.1% of the time with Speaker Sheldon Silver on decisions that have thrown our state into virtual insolvency. A vote for Paulin, an entrenched incumbent, will only ensure that the problem will get worse; a vote on November 2 for Atayan, a true reformer, will allow the State of New York to begin to restore fiscal solvency.
Paulin's fiscal incompetency should come as no surprise. Her previous work for a non-profit organization may qualify her to take warm and fuzzy social legislation to the floor. However, the (admittedly moving) anecdotal stories about her obscure the critical issue: Paulin is doing a horrible job representing most of her constituency. And let’s not fool ourselves into thinking that her record on social causes is unblemished. Paulin voted for budget item A00156B, which allows criminals to have their records sealed, creating a serious potential threat to children, the elderly, and the institutions that care for them.
Paulin has no experience working in private industry, which her work in the legislature has made painfully evident. For example, she has turned a blind eye to the New York State pension crisis, as the vote for article 19 swelled from a liability of $245 million to $1.7 billion. The populations of New York State and of Westchester Country have shrunk while Paulin has been in office, yet spending has increased 70%. Thanks to measures taken by Paulin, Westchester County is overburdened with state mandates for pension plans, Medicaid, and other entitlement programs. We are now the highest-taxed county in the country, with rates 80% above the norm. Not only is Paulin totally unqualified to help solve our fiscal crisis, she is a clear and present danger to our future!
Rene Atayan is a far better choice for State Assembly. Atayan has spent 30 years in the private sector. Her experience includes work as an engineer in Detroit, in sales and marketing development with prominent media firms, and as an independent business owner. Rene has served the people of New York as an auxiliary police officer and a board member of the volunteer ambulance corps. She has fought, as a citizen and a volunteer, to cut wasteful spending, reduce taxes, and improve our schools, gladly taking on such issues as housing, zoning, and traffic. Her husband sits on the Bronxville Board of Education, and was influential last year in helping the Board to lower taxes without adversely affecting academics. Boy, do we need that kind of action at the state level!
Rene Atayan has the experience and values that will enable her to be the reformer that New York State needs.
Andrea O'Halloran
Bronxville, NY
Please Move the Truck
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Letter To The Editor: Please note that the Scarsdale Woman's Exchange has been at the same location for the past 79 years. Our business is being hurt by the fact that UPS and FEDEX and all delivery trucks ALWAYS park in front of our shop. We really feel that these vehicles should park in front of other retail shops and not always in front of our shop! It just is not fair for our customers to have our store blocked by these trucks and we really feel our parking spot should be available for our customers. Our business is really being hurt by this unfair practice.
Renee Hock
Scarsdale Women’s Exchange
Harwood Court
Scarsdale
Don't Throw the Baby Out With the Bathwater
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To the Editor: I am as frustrated by the dysfunction and corruption in Albany as anyone, so I largely agree with those whose response to an incumbent running for re-election to the State legislative bodies is to say “no way.” However, that should definitely not be the response when considering incumbent Assembly member, Amy Paulin. Rejecting Amy's candidacy would be a big mistake. It is in just these tough times that we need what Amy Paulin has consistently provided: an able legislator who is in office to make positive contributions to helping people in their community, not just to stay to feather her own nest or to help special interests. Amy Paulin is that special legislator who has stood up for people and reform and against entrenched interests.
Examples:
- Amy is one of only two Assembly members to refuse to accept what the leadership calls “member-items” but which is just money handed out to reward following the party line; she is sponsoring legislation to completely overhaul the unfair process for awarding this money to legislators.
- Amy introduced legislation to stop officeholders convicted of a felony from receiving their taxpayer-funded pensions.
- Amy pushed for an independent ethics and oversight board for the legislative and executive branches.
- Amy has long been an advocate for an independent, nonpartisan redistricting commission.
- Amy successfully fought for rule-changes in the Assembly to end “absentee voting” and broadcast proceedings on cable television.
- Endorsed by both Ed Koch and NY Uprising as a “Hero of Reform,” Amy has proven that she can bring about needed reform in Albany.
So before you throw the baby out with the bathwater, stop and recognize who and what Amy Paulin is and I think you will agree with me that she should be reelected on November 2 so that she can finish the job.
Very truly yours,
David M. Brodsky
October 21, 2010
