Burke: ‘Legislature should be butting heads with Executive'

To the editor: The County Executive and Spencer McLaughlin disagreed on the placement of the Colonel Bradley statue in Goshen and have now made amends. Good. The history of Orange County should be preserved and protected. The “fool’s errand” remark by the County Executive reveals his disrespect for the County Legislature and for the democratic process. He met with N.Y.C. officials about Camp LaGuardia without anyone from the legislature. He buried the opportunity for the legislature to discuss and vote on a one-week sales tax moratorium that would have allowed parents to save on back-to-school shopping. He put the environmental impact statement for the pipeline in his drawer to limit legislative review. He founded a police academy without telling the legislature. He inserted his own financial advisor into the county employees’ retirement plan without legislative (or employee) involvement. He has squelched any county government discussion on school property taxes. The County Legislature should be butting heads with the County Executive on these issues. The present majority is too complacent on the issues that mean the most to the voters of Monroe. Only a new majority in the legislature can make Orange County government responsive to the people of Orange County. Vote on Nov. 8 and send them a message. Dan Burke Democratic candidate County Legislator District # 7