Interview with Rick Montes |
Taxes:
A 20-30% Property Tax hike is on its way on top of the 18.65% tax increase of only a few months ago and the recent sales tax increase. We, the home owners and local business people, can't continue to be an endless source of money to feed government. We are being taxed out of Putnam! We must take a hard look at exactly how the money is being spent. We may need an independent auditor to scour the budget and see what spending can be reduced. We must have an efficiently run government where critical services are protected but less critical cut. We must go through each department of the county and find out where salaries can be cut or eliminated. There must be no political patronage. We have one of the highest tax rates in the entire nation. Raising our taxes should be a last resort, not a cure all. We must lessen the burden on homeowners who are paying exorbitant property taxes and who are receiving little in return. We must re-examine our school taxes. When school tax increases are voted down, by we the people, and then another vote takes place a few weeks or months later it is an outrage. The school board should have one chance to present a fair budget. If voted down, they should have to wait another year.
View: Tax Foundation Report
View: Highest Taxes in Nation
County Legislators break promise
****6-22-07 Update***************
The State assembly voted to raise Putnam County's sales tax to 4%. My opponent gave her support to this slap in the face. Meanwhile, our families and business people continue to struggle. Now, on top of this tax increase an astronomical 20-30% Property Tax hike is on it's way! Lets end this madness and clean out the "business as usual" crowd this September. Vote For Rick.
********4-03-07 Update************
The Putnam County Legislature by a margin of 7-2 voted once again to raise our taxes. My opponent voted yes to take more of our hard earned money. When will it end?
*******3-22-07 Latest Update:
Once again Putnam County is looking to forcibly take our hard earned money. Robert Bondi and the Legislature are looking for ways to raise our taxes, whether it is a 66% Property Tax increase or a sales tax, they just don't get it. The lesser of two evils is still evil. Lets look and see where the money is actually being spent and slash spending before we raise our taxes another nickel. This is madness!
Read Article from the Journal News
Read Article from Putnam Courier
Illegal aliens.
Illegal aliens are a drain on our community resources and are an affront to all those who have entered our country LEGALLY. First and foremost they are here ILLEGALLY. They are taking away jobs from our citizens (yes, Americans want to work) and more often than not are involved in street crimes such as illicit drug use, gang activity, prostitution and vagrancy. They are living in homes and apartments by the dozens, most likely against local housing codes, and are not only a health hazard but a danger to the community (House fires and Drug arrest are on the rise, even Murder). Their children attend our schools but we pay the yearly school tax increase. We must crack down on these law breakers and the people who hire and house them. We must enforce building and safety codes and require every contractor who does business in the County to sign an affidavit that all workers employed by them (sub-contractors included) are here legally and properly insured. (view my comments at a local forum meeting)
Check out some of the statistics showing the cost of Illegal Aliens in the United States. http://www.immigrationcounters.com/
Property Rights
Private property is the essence of the American dream. We must make sure that homeowners and their property are protected from eminent domain policies and over regulation. We must insure that Planning & Zoning boards are accountable to the people.
Land Use:
Most of us live in Putnam County because we love the country. We must make sure that our county remains the "country" and not have the urban sprawl that has affected so many other places. We must ensure the proper use of existing land and any new development must take into effect the consequences on surrounding families. Once our country like setting is gone, it will never come back. The voice of the people must be heard in these matters. We must have impact fees on all residential or commercial projects.
While Planning and Zoning laws inherently intrude on homeowners rights, some laws are needed to insure that the community at large is protected against un-warranted development and unsafe living conditions (Such as 30 Illegal Aliens living in a dwelling meant for a single family). 
Obtrusive and over burdensome regulations against homeowners must never be committed, and no homeowner or property owner should ever be threatened with loss of their property because of these laws except where the safety and health of the community is endangered. I vehemently oppose any Eminent Domain policies that would take private property for private gain.
Highways and Streets:
Our county is growing rapidly and our roadways are congested. We need better street signs, traffic lights and clearly marked crossing paths. Our children and the elderly use our walkways and streets everyday, especially near the Carmel High School and Post Office. We must make sure that they are safe in their travels.
Business:
The new Court House is finally being built and this will be a tremendous opportunity for local business. We need to make our County Seat an attractive area for small business owners who want to relocate into town. We must continue to promote our "Shop Putnam" campaign and seek to attract the types of retail stores everyone can utilize. 
We need an AMES type store back in the area, it is greatly missed. We need bus service to the Highlands Shopping Center to make it easier for our citizens to shop locally. We must make it attractive for local businesses to want to stay in our town and county. I grew up on Long Island and have seen first hand what over developing can do to the surrounding communities with little benefit to the taxpayer. Once government gets its hand on more tax revenue it rarely gives it back to reduce your burden. It just finds more ways to spend it.
We need to foster community business enterprises like the old fashion Mom and Pop stores. We do not need humongous box type stores in our backyard, we need smart planning and developing. I will work hand and hand with all our local elected officials to make sure our communities grow wisely.
Preserve Our History :
Our county is historic.
Many Revolutionary War soldiers, who sacrificed everything to give us our Republic, are buried in our neighborhoods.
From Sybil Ludington's famous ride to the Civil War Foundry in Cold Spring, many historic happenings took place in our county. We must treasure this past, promote it and preserve it.
2nd Amendment:
I believe that the right to keep and bear arms, as stated in the 2nd amendment, is the foundation of all our other rights. Without it, all other rights are just words written on paper. I will always fight to defend the Constitutional right of the lawful citizen to be armed. I will also defend places, such as Putnam County Fish and Game, against legislation that would seek to prohibit law abiding citizens the use of land for shooting and hunting purposes. I am a proud Lifetime member of GOA, NRA member and certified pistol Instructor and a member of the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association and just recently a member of The Fraternal Order of Police, Stephen P. Driscoll Lodge.
View Local Stories on the Illegal Alien problem:
(If you can't read the links you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader : Get it Free, click below)
Illegal Alien Forum in Brewster
Illegal Aliens commit murder in Brewster
Illegal Aliens commit assault & burglary
Mexican gangs commit murder in Yonkers
Illegal Alien Boot Camp: Teaching Illegal's how to invade the United States
Suffolk County takes the lead on Crackdown of Illegal Aliens.
While Suffolk County has shown political backbone in it's attempt
to fight the ever growing menace of the Illegal Alien invasion, Putnam County's Legislature still does nothing to protect it's community.
What one State is doing to curb Illegal's. Our Legislators should take heed!
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Community and related links:
*All links are for information purposes only and do not necessarily represent an endorsement of my candidacy.
9/11 Families For A Secure America
www.carmelresident.org
StopPattersonCrossing.com y candidacy
