Opinions & Commentary

The Opinions and Commentary expressed is the sole responsibility of the respective authors and does not neccesarily  reflect the opinons of Ramapo Times or InterNetwork Media LLC.  The authors assume all liability for their opinions and commentary.

Save “Mom & Pop” Stores in New York State

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

New York State Vulnerable to Job Poaching

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

Looking for the Food Network & HGTV? Won't Find them if you're a Cablevision Customer

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

Photo Gallery: Suffern Toy Drive Made Possible by Community Effort

What is a community?   One could easily visit any number of websites to learn the definition but you’d be hard pressed to find a definition for a ‘great’ community.  Photo Gallery This past week I was fortunate enough to w...

A Brilliant Solution For Suffern

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

What We Really Need is a Chicken Slaughterhouse

Yes, I went there. What we really need is a chicken slaughterhouse in every village.  If Herbert Hoover were alive today perhaps that would be his rallying cry to jolt complacent non-voters out of their stupor and out to the polls.  We...

Is Robert Morris Lying or Just Playing Politics?

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

If Americans Buy American, Many Social Ills Will Disappear

I read an article in the New York Times this morning about Drywall Imported from China. Here is my opinion on the shameful practices that are destroying our nation.

China already "owns"part of the US. By acquiring, and the US eagerly selling, its' debt to China, we are giving them massive amounts of leverage. Our "behavior" (policy making) determines if they call in the debt (which we can not pay) on time or not. This tips trade negotiations in their favor.  Full Article