By Al Samuels, President/CEO, Rockland Business Association

We’ve lost the Empire Zone program.  Our Tourism Department is under fire.  We’re still burdened by the MTA Payroll Tax.  We’re facing consolidations by some of our largest employers.

I like baseball.  The first major league game I ever saw was the Toronto Blue Jays home opener against the Chicago White Sox on April 7, 1977.  This was the first ever game played by the Jays and a snow storm blew in before the game which the Jays won 9-5. 

Throughout our history “mom & pop” entrepreneurship has been the cornerstone of our economic success.  As downtown revitalization has come to the forefront once again throughout America, the proposal by Governor Paterson to allow wine to be sold in “Big Box” stores, has become a very contentious issue.  Full Article

As I travel throughout New York State meeting with public and private sector leaders, two interrelated issues taxes and job creation are the main focus of our discussions.  High taxes and utility costs are impeding the creation of new jobs and are making New York State vulnerable to so called “job poaching”.   Full Article

Two big kids apparently can't get along in the sandbox. 

As of early Friday morning, Cablevision has pulled Scripps Network's Food Network and HGTV off the air.  Or did Scripps pull the networks off Cablevision?  Cablevision blames Scripps, Scripps says "As a result of Cablevision’s decision not to negotiate new distribution agreements, Food Network and HGTV were dropped from the cable operator’s channel lineup." Full Article

As a Suffern resident, I totally appreciate Mr. Meehan's personal perspective on why we should recycle batteries.  It is incredibly refreshing to hear this type of discussion from our elected officials.  So many people in the village dispose of their batteries either in aluminum can recycling or in the garbage.  The admission by Mr. Meehan that he has thrown out batteries in the garbage on a few occasions is very honest.  Most of us have done it from time to time because there is NO convenient way to dispose of batteries.  Full Article

On Monday (October 12th), I had the pleasure of being interviewed by the Journal News, along with my opponents Robert Morris and Irene Walsh. Members of the newspaper's editorial staff asked us a number of questions about the village and our plans for the future of Suffern. Walsh, Morris, and I shared our views on issues including the Orange Avenue redevelopment, 287(g), and selling our water.  Full Article