Letter to the Editor: Get Facts Straight About CSEA Lawsuit

To the Editor:

Re: Letter to the Editor

Michaelis is either mis-informed about the CSEA lawsuit or knowingly repeated the already discredited and false statement made by Rob Astorino– an administration that is stinging from criticism of spending taxpayer money to defend a lawsuit against the county that they brought about, and worse hiring a politically connected law firm to defend them.

I live in a world with facts and repeating something that is wrong does not somehow make it true.

Here are the FACTS:

Fact: The Board of Legislators was sued by CSEA – the Board did not sue the county.

Fact: The Board of Legislators did not join the suit or cross claim. As a defendant they filed a neutral bi-partisan response that included all of the suggested revisions made by the Republican Minority Leader.

Fact: The County Attorney disqualified himself from the case after counsel hired by the Astorino Administration informed them of the conflict. In fact, the BOL voted to waive the conflict to allow the County Attorney to defend Rob Astorino. It was the Astorino Administration that chose to use taxpayer money to hire a politically connected law firm to defend themselves.

Fact: The CSEA employees were state grant employees that cost the property taxpayers of Westchester no money - $0.

Fact: Even if CSEA wins the lawsuit, those 38 jobs lost will not be recreated. The employees with seniority will simply replace less senior people who will be fired.

Fact: County Legislator Pete Harckham has actually reduced the size and cost of government for his constituents.  So much so that he slashed spending $50M over the last two years (10 points on the tax levy). The adopted 2011 bi-partisan budget passed by the Board of Legislators (with all Republicans joining the Democrats), more than DOUBLED the tax relief proposed by the Astorino Administration (-2.2% BOL vs. -1% Astorino).

We are lucky to have a committed County Legislator who tells the truth and has slashed spending and passed meaningful tax relief.

We will not be well served by Astorino supporters like Michaelis playing loose with the truth.

To learn the real truth about the CSEA matter, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/user/westchestercountybol#p/u/0/kqh2_7q0nw4

 Sincerely,

Bruce Yablon

Chairman Bedford Democratic Committee

Katonah, NY