Editorial: What To Do During Belmont Stakes Week

Being a native of Elmont, if there’s one thing to always get excited about, it’s Belmont Stakes Week. There’s so much to do and to block out time to do it becomes a welcomed task.

From June 2-9, there are endless amounts of activities ranging from the Belmont Stakes Parade on June 2, to the film festival on June 6 and of course, the Belmont Stakes on June 9.

The Forest Fire: May 15, 2012

Make The ‘Wright’ Choice

His story was too good to be true. He grew up as a New York Mets fan and was drafted by his favorite team in 2001, making his professional debut in 2004 at third base at Shea Stadium.

He has been the face of Flushing and with Jose Reyes now playing shortstop for the Miami Marlins, there’s one clear fact that should be carved in stone: The Mets must keep David Wright.

General manager Sandy Alderson is trading in signing big name free agents for building from within the Mets minor league system, hoping developmental prospects come along faster than expected. The Mets have indicated they want to cut payroll, but how far?

Editorial: Staying In-House Is The Way To Go

When Ernie Accorsi retired as New York Giants general manager in January 2007, fans were clamoring for the Mara and Tisch families to go after big-ticket names like Bill Parcells and current Kansas City Chiefs GM Scott Pioli to take the reigns of one of the NFL’s most storied franchises. Yet, in true Giants fashion, they stayed in-house and filled the void with an up and coming front office nobody: Jerry Reese.

Accorsi was credited with pinpointing sure fire NFL stars like John Elway and most recently, eight years ago with Eli Manning. It was a safe bet to say no one could make a mark like Accorsi in New York.

From The Desk Of NY State Senator Jack Martins: May 9, 2012

Signs Of Progress

Hold on to your hats. I’m going to do something I rarely do and for which I may not have another opportunity for a long time: compliment the MTA, and in particular thank the Long Island Rail Road.  Usually when I write about them, it’s to bring to light some egregiously wasteful practice or poor decision that further burdens taxpayers or riders. To be sure, there’s still plenty of that devil-may-care attitude there to fuel columns well into the next decade but by the same token, it’s only fair that I point out when the MTA makes progress.     

I suspect that those commuters from Port Washington, Great Neck, and Manhasset, that rely upon the LIRR’s Port Washington line, have already donned their party hats and noisemakers, but in case you don’t know why, I have the honor of informing you that the Long Island Rail Road is restoring weekday service on the Port Washington line to its pre-2010 conditions. Trains will now run every half-hour as opposed to every hour, a move which should be applauded.

Editorial: A Telling Tale Of A League Based On Violence, Secrecy

I like to consider myself an NFL know-it-all, even with just two years experience covering a pro team. But in the end, like every person who decided to try their hand at crafting rhetoric for criticism…they started off as a fan. And as a former fan, I say the March 2 bounty scandal that’s surrounding the New Orleans Saints, which led to an indefinite suspension for defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and a one year ban for head coach Sean Payton, is a sad reality in a grueling, paranoid, secretive, alpha-male sport: There are skeletons in the NFL’s closet and they busted the lock.

Saints’ coaches knew of players placing high-priced bounties on opposing players. Unacceptable? Yes. Surprising? Well, that’s for you to decide.

From the desk of NY State Senator Jack Martins: May 2, 2012

More Than Just A Tax Cap

I think people in neighboring states could hear New Yorkers breathe a collective sigh of relief this past week as we finally began to see the effects of our new tax cap.  More than anything else, property taxes have been the overriding issue in New York for many years, especially since they’ve grown on average more than 6 percent a year for 10 years, double the rate of inflation.

So, after leading the nation in runaway increases for so long, we finally hit the brakes in 2011 with a tax cap that had bipartisan support in both houses of the legislature. With limited exceptions, it holds increases in school and local property taxes to 2 percent a year, or the rate of inflation, whichever is less.

Editorial: The “Wonderful” Wonderlic

Right around this time every year, burgeoning college football players are setting up interviews, attending charity functions, performing at the NFL Scouting Combine and showcasing why they should be considered the next big thing until the NFL Draft. There are agencies out there that prepare, coach and mentor them for the exposure, the limelight and the glamour.

But there’s one thing that takes players back to their senior year of high school, an essential SAT for draft-eligible football players—the Wonderlic test.

From the desk of NY State Senator Jack Martins: April 25, 2012

The Signs Of Spring

As sure as the swallows return to Capistrano, you know it must be spring in New York City when the mayoral candidates declare war on the suburbs. No sooner did we repeal the onerous MTA payroll tax than candidate, Manhattan borough President Scott Stringer, trotted out his plan for a new and improved commuter tax. I know, I know, it’s not really new. Multiple candidates in every mayoral race suggest it, but Mr. Stringer gets the prize for being the first this year. It’s a sharp political move for them when you think about it: advocate for a tax on those who can’t vote for (or against) you anyway.  

If you’re unfamiliar with this flawed policy, allow me to fill you in. The commuter tax was in place since 1966. If you didn’t live in the five boroughs but traveled into the city for work, the city conveniently took a percentage of your salary for the privilege. It was finally repealed in 1999 and ever since, mayoral candidates of every stripe have tried to resurrect it, pandering to the age-old instinct, “Let the other guy pay for it.”

From the desk of NY State Senator Jack Martins: April 18, 2012

Political Tea Leaves

Each day, including weekends, I receive emails from the Senate Communications Office that contain news stories from media outlets around the state. The emails cover just about everything that would be of interest to state senators and we’re asked to review them to keep abreast of developing issues. I actually kind of enjoy reading most of them. It’s like having all the key issues conveniently delivered every morning and it makes my job that much easier.

Most news “trends” come from unplanned events or circumstances. For example, a hurricane will naturally trigger stories for several days on emergency preparedness or our lack of it.  But I’ve been in politics long enough to read other stories and decipher that something’s happening behind the scenes, a story behind the story. These seemingly innocuous items are gently spun into the news stream to slowly start beating the drum of support for some upcoming issue or agenda.  

Model Train Show April 28, 29 At Airpower Museum in Farmingdale

Trainville Hobby Depot of Hicksville is bringing a model train show to the American Airpower Museum in Farmingdale again this year on the weekend of April 28 and 29. Hours are Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission includes the train show and all museum exhibits.

Many local train clubs set up their very impressive displays of N, HO and O-gauge model railroads. Trainville Hobby Depot will be displaying its N-Scale layout. There will also be a display planned of the Z-Scale trains.