A few days ago I was asked to speak on behalf of Counseling Center at a rally at the Nassau County Executive Building and before the legislative session that followed. Public speaking is not something I do professionally nor is it something I particularly relish however I accepted enthusiastically because of what I see going on in Massapequa as well as our surrounding communities. I also accepted because I planned on including my children and wanted to demonstrate that quotes such as be the change you wish to see in the world are more than just inspirational words stolen from Gandhi to be posted on social media. They are words that deserve action.
My daughter and three of her best friends attended the rally with me. It was with great pride that I watched as they stood on the steps of the Executive Building and fielded questions from news organizations. At 14 and 15, they stood there representing a small segment of our future. It was, I hoped, something our legislators would have the opportunity to see. I had hoped that those people who are voted into office would look into those faces and all of the other young faces that showed up in hopes that voices would be heard, and have to tell those kids why their programs were being held hostage to political machinations.
While in the legislative session which could be a reality show called Legislators Behaving Badly, my daughter and her friends were paying attention. Our Presiding Officer Republican Peter Schmitt and our Minority Leader Democrat Kevan Abrahams went back and forth each blaming the other party for this funding issue. Neither denied that the funding was there yet neither side could come to a reasonable solution that would help our youth and families. The word pawn was thrown around and my daughter’s friend, Jess, whispered that the legislators both needed a sharing stick. My daughter smiled and suggested that if she fought with her brothers like that, they’d get sent to their room for a time-out. Out of the mouths of babes….
Unfortunately, while I had the opportunity to speak at the press conference, the legislators all chose to interrupt the public comments to fight over closing out the 2011 budget. It seemed that this session was the first time that any of them had seen the budget, at least that was the impression I had after listening to over an hour of questions and fighting over funds that one legislator labeled fictitious. I am not a professional demonstrator nor would I classify myself as politically savvy but it seemed to me the timing of the closing out of the budget business was designed to clear out the room, which it did. We finally had to leave at 3:45 while legislators were still fighting over whether funds were fictitious or not and whether or not money that is fictitious could be borrowed.
I have met Peter Schmitt in the past just as I have met Kevan Abrahams. They both seem like nice men though I don’t know either of them personally. I have written both. The Minority Leader does not represent my community though he is a representative of my County. Every legislator there represents Nassau County, the county I live in. My interest doesn’t end at the Massapequa borders. I hold every legislator there responsible for what will happen to our youth if they continue to hold our kids as pawns. It was, by the way, a lovely description provided by our legislators. Pawns.
What our legislators really need to understand is that I am not just a pawn. I am a taxpayer and a voter. I do not limit my votes to party lines. I look at the issues and the people who are running, people who may be very nice people, but people who in the end, will be serving me, my kids, and my community. They serve all of us, not just Republicans and not just Democrats. They serve all of us. In three years, my daughter and her friends will be eligible to vote. It isn’t that far away. Those legislators need to end their squabbling and do what is right for their communities. But they will only do that if all of the pawns step up and let their voices be heard.
There will be another session on Monday, June 25. This pawn, I mean voter, plans on attending. My voice will be heard.
The red light money was set up to fund these programs and then taken away. It was discussed heatedly at the session but in the end, both sides seemed more interested in political swiping than doing what they were elected to do which is serve their constituents. It shouldn't be a Republican/Democrat issue. it is a Nassau County issue. Please take the time to contact the Nassau County Legislators and demand that we don't lose these programs. Imagine just in Elmont that there will be 800 kids on the street with nothing to do. That's just one town in Nassau.
Both sides blame each other and both sides have "valid" reasons why they dig in their heels. The bottom line is that they are hurting the kids and families of the same county they claim to serve. I'm tired of the state of politics and want to see all of the kids to have a place to go, not just the Republican kids and not just the Democrat kids. All kids! It was my understanding that originally the red light money was going to be used to fund the Youth Board and Youth Services and was then rescinded. It's hard to really know what's going on when both sides refuse to answer questions and instead attack the "other side of the aisle," a phrase I heard the entire time I was there.
Teen years are not typically years that the best choices are always made. I'm not sure if you remember being a teen, but I do. I was a pretty good kid but still found trouble on occasion. That was with a mom who didn't have to work. What about the kids who aren't so lucky? Who's problem do they become then when they run out of summer reading projects? Maybe you're frustrated by the state of the economy and I don't blame you, as a taxpayer, I'd like to know that there are programs there to keep our youth busy as well as programs they can turn to when they need help.
Mangano is being sued by the unions over his unconstitutional power-grab to cancel contracts. I will bet you that instead of in-house lawyers already being paid by taxpayers, Mangano will hire a firm full of his cronies and they'll have a few $million to pay for those lawyers. Sever all outside contracts and the savings can be found. But then Mangano and D'Amato's friends pockets don't get lined. All the Democrats are doing is making Mangano and Schmitt abide by their campaign pledges to stop borrowing. It's Mangano who is using the young people of nassau county as pawns in his game. When Mangano fired social services case workers a few months ago, there was a huge outcry and backlash. And guess what? Mangano and his mini-me Rob Walker "found" enough money to rehire the workers. Did you know that Peter Schmitt's top aide makes $170,000? Previously he made $90,000 as press secretery. Previously he was a legislator (defeated) making $39,000. He also has a job at Nassau Community College. Tell me we aren't being laughed at all the way to the bank by political hacks.
It was actually our legislators who called us pawns as they fought back and forth. In their attempt to make each other look bad they actually spoke the truth. I was asked to speak to the legislators a few years ago about the same issue before Mangano was in so while I have no problem assigning blame to him in this particular instance, the bigger picture for me is that the two party system is crushing all of us. They need to stop the games, the squabbling, the making the "other side of the aisle" look like the bad guy. Both sides are guilty of it. I would love to see the turn out again this Monday that we saw last Monday. Even greater would be a larger group of people paying attention and contacting the legislators. All of them! I have been guilty of not being as involved as I should have been and that ends now. I know you are informed on many of the issues and what goes on so please know that I appreciate your comments and input.
It astounds me that more people are not outraged that our families are being held hostage to political games. It is the silence that enables these politicians to conduct business as usual.
I find it funny when people consider funding youth programs the same as offering free babysitting yet no alternatives are offered. Your mom was very lucky to have a stay at home mom down the block to babysit. Not everyone is so lucky. I know many two income families that have no choice but to be two income families. Because you or your mother did not need an after school program, summer camp, or counseling agencies doesn't mean nobody does. Many of those people who utilize those programs pay taxes just like you. One other thing that's getting lost. The legislature is not saying the money is not there. They are fighting over which side has to give up what before they make it available. If you don't find that disgusting I don't know what to tell you.
It is disappointing to me that people seem so uninterested in this. You are right though, when they need it then they will care. I was unaware of a rally planned for next Friday. The 6th? If that is the case I will be there. I'm working on a letter that I have several signatures for. I'm going to figure out a way to make that letter available for anyone who would like to sign it. Thanks for your comment and the support for these programs!
Are you siggesting that govt run day care helps curb herion use and crime. In there a connection with crime rates and lack of services for young kids. Some very poor area ( none of which you have ever stepped one foot in I can assure you ) have very little crime, because of solid family structures, and private institutions like churches, sports leagues etc. The greatest indication of future criminal activity is whether you have a father in the house.
First, don't draw conclusions about where or where I have not been. I'm reasonably sure we've had variations of this discussion on other threads when you posted under another name. The economy is in the tank. Kids are using drugs and harder drugs at younger ages. I would say the rise in addiction rates would be a great indicator of future criminal activities and some of those future criminals DO have fathers in the house. I will never minimize the importance of a father or mother's role, but what would you presume to do with kids who don't have both parents or kids who have parents but parents that are crappy? Should we just pretend they don';t exist? Not all of them become criminals but should we wait until they become criminals before we consider the financial impact they will have on society? I'm not sure what your solutions are other than make sure every household has a father and every working mother should have a neighbor who babysits. Please tell me what you suggest.