For Release: IMMEDIATELY Contact: Mike O’Connor Date: Friday, October 23, 2009 (51 588-5910
NO NEW TAX PARTY ANNOUNCES PUBLIC WORKSHOP
The No New Tax Party candidates will hold a public workshop to discuss the important issues in Schenectady County District 4 and the Town of Rotterdam.
The workshop is open to the public. It is intended to listen to the concerns of residents and promote the exchange of constructive ideas toward future solutions. The No New Tax Party candidates are glad to provide an opportunity for residents to express their views in an intimate forum designed for substantive discussion.
The workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, October 27th from 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm in the large meeting room at the Rotterdam Branch Library, 1100 N. Westcott Road, in Rotterdam.*************************************************************************************** This type of workshop has been offered by ONLY ONE political party – the No New Tax Party! The "other" parties may have had gatherings but they were probably fundraisers. This is NOT a fundraiser; they aren’t asking for money. The candidates are making themselves available to discuss the issues that are important to the residents! If you haven’t done so already, come and meet the NNTP team …they are unique individuals with progressive ideas…they don’t rely on the big businessmen or developers in Rotterdam to direct their actions. They are committed to the residents of Rotterdam and will serve you well, when elected. Bring your concerns and ideas or simply come to listen to a new way of governing our town. Vote Row F – Brian McGarry, Mike O’Connor, John Mertz and Brad Littlefield
I'm glad our intent has been recognized. Time to spread the word is obviously limited and presents a challenge but we believe it is important to provide another opportunity to the voters to engage us if they'd like, especially after the LWV event deteriorated. The problem with the conventional events anyway is that it is near impossible to give substantive answers when limited to a minute or two. We love knocking on doors, but it's getting darker earlier now so we're turning the light on at the library and inviting you to visit us!
Our event is a workshop - unlike a debate or candidate forum where we speak, and you listen. We want to primarily listen to you, and then of course, express our thoughts or answer your questions. The idea is to get as many people in the room that care about solving the problems we face - together, in a discussion. We definitely have our views and some ideas on what ought to be done but we certainly don't claim to have all the answers. I've always thought public input is critical and is underappreciated by our elected officials. People have a lot of valid concerns and good ideas - if you listen. We have been...and we will be Tuesday night. I hope you'll join us Tuesday and take part in a discussion of finding real solutions.
ROTTERDAM Two election forums scheduled this week BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter
No New Tax Party candidate Michael O’Connor never got to answer questions from voters during the League of Women Voters candidate forum, even though he attended it last week . Fellow Town Board candidate John Mertz and Brian McGarry, the independent party’s candidate for supervisor, also lost a chance to field questions from residents. Both Mertz and McGarry boycotted the forum on principle, after the town Republican Committee’s chairman questioned the literacy of the Democratic candidate for supervisor, among other things. Now the three independent candidates and Brad Littlefield, their party’s selection for county legislator, have scheduled their own forum. The group will appear together publicly in the Rotterdam Branch Library at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, with the hope of reaching any voters that still may want to ask them questions before November’s election. “It’s certainly in response to what may have been lacking as far as the voters are concerned,” O’Connor said Friday. O’Connor said the hour-long “workshop” will feature brief statements from each of the No New Tax Party candidates. Afterward, he said they will have an informal discussion with the public. “We’re looking for an opportunity to engage the voters,” he said. ...........>>>>..........>>>>.............http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01302&AppName=1
I think this will be a good opportunity to meet with you guys and discuss issues of concern. Although I don't know if there is anyone left in town that hasn't talked to you guys at their front door.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
I have some questions I would like the NNTP answer if possible:
How will you cut spending, taxes etc? SPECIFICALLY?
Are Brian McGarry and FDG taking money from Mallozzi's?
Why is Brian McGarry not concerned, if it is true, that Delgallo will need help in Town Hall, and how are they going to cut expenses? He will need a full time deputy and a full time attorney which will cost us more money.
Why are the candidates only holding a forum for an hour and not taking questions formally (like in a real forum), but instead will "mingle" with the crowd that shows up? If I show up and ask a question, is the answer going to be whispered in my ear, done with sign language or will it be answered with a series of hoots and clicks?
I have some questions I would like the NNTP answer if possible:
How will you cut spending, taxes etc? SPECIFICALLY?
Why are the candidates only holding a forum for an hour and not taking questions formally (like in a real forum), but instead will "mingle" with the crowd that shows up? If I show up and ask a question, is the answer going to be whispered in my ear, done with sign language or will it be answered with a series of hoots and clicks?
LOL.
With smoke signals! The format is my call. That's my prerogative. I chose to do it that way because I think it will be more substantive. I'm sorry if you don't agree but come join us and criticize me afterwards if necessary if you leave unfulfilled. It's not the typical format because we're not typical candidates. It's an hour because I work full time and assume you do too. I also have to reserve the block of time at the library and was lucky to get what I did. After you're gone, I get to put all the chairs away so the library folks can go home on time.
Your first question I've answered about 10,000 times already, a few times on this forum. (Search my posts - I'm sure you'll find some detailed answers.) I'm also on record at various town meetings with what I'd cut...SPECIFICALLY! In a nutshell, let me say start with freezing the pay raises, and the creation of redundant positions. (I've identified both of those areas in some detail.) How about not trying to create new tax districts? I'm on a door knocking break so I'm purposely brief. Perhaps we can talk again soon. Maybe even Tuesday?
This 'meet the candidates' for the NNTP, I assume will not be micro managed. There will obviously be no party leaders or organizations to dictate or micro manage. It will probably be more informal, from what I'm reading.
The way I read it, it's a work shop to meet the candidates, for whoever wants to go. It's not a fundraiser.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Is the one at Mallozzi's a "pass the hat" type of deal? Who is paying for it or is Mallozzis paying for it to curry favor with a new administration? I see that the last one didn't cost anything, according to the reports filed with the State Board of Elections. They must of ate air and drank tap water for the $0 price tag. But I heard that have marvelous delicacies. Not reporting a $20,000 banquet is the kind of thing, when done by Metroplex, gets you a comptroller audit.
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
Is the one at Mallozzi's a "pass the hat" type of deal? Who is paying for it or is Mallozzis paying for it to curry favor with a new administration? I see that the last one didn't cost anything, according to the reports filed with the State Board of Elections. They must of ate air and drank tap water for the $0 price tag. But I heard that have marvelous delicacies. Not reporting a $20,000 banquet is the kind of thing, when done by Metroplex, gets you a comptroller audit.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
... The format is my call. That's my prerogative. I chose to do it that way because I think it will be more substantive. I'm sorry if you don't agree but come join us and criticize me afterwards if necessary if you leave unfulfilled. It's not the typical format because we're not typical candidates. It's an hour because I work full time and assume you do too. I also have to reserve the block of time at the library and was lucky to get what I did. After you're gone, I get to put all the chairs away so the library folks can go home on time.
We had a good turnout for our gathering tonight. Some old faces and some new faces which I found particularly encouraging. I hope those that attended found it worthwhile - we had some interesting, constructive discussion, I thought. Especially rewarding was the civility in the room. The conduct and respect for each other's views in the room tonight is exactly the type of conduct and respect we'll need from whomever gets elected if we're going to find solutions.
The format was definitely a little different and I hope people liked it. The conversation seemed to me to continue to evolve naturally from topic to topic, prompted by not only questions to the candidates but by questions from the candidates to the people and from one person to another person. I hope I succeeded in making sure everyone had an equal opportunity to participate - I did my best as "moderator" to keep the questions and comments moving around the room as people expressed desire to weigh in.
The biggest drawback, as expected, was that we only had an hour but I thought we stretched it beyond that pretty well as we kept talking while putting away chairs. Someone referred to it as "a real town hall style meeting." I was glad to hear that comment because that probably sums up the intent best.
If we're successful getting elected expect us to hold similar gatherings...hopefully with more time available.
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Will SACC-TV 16 be at the NNTP town hall to film it for latter broadcast? 
The format is my call. That's my prerogative. I chose to do it that way because I think it will be more substantive. I'm sorry if you don't agree but come join us and criticize me afterwards if necessary if you leave unfulfilled. It's not the typical format because we're not typical candidates. It's an hour because I work full time and assume you do too. I also have to reserve the block of time at the library and was lucky to get what I did. After you're gone, I get to put all the chairs away so the library folks can go home on time.
