Elmont Online

Elmont NY, on Thursday, March 17 Elmont Online watched with anticipation the Assembly Budget Resolution vote made by new Assemblyperson Edward Ra of the 21st Assembly District.  It was a test as to what kind of representative he would be.

The budget resolution is a vote that signals the intentions of Assembly Members on how they will vote on budget issues like education and health care. Ra voted "no" with upstate Republicans to increased aid to education, health care, SUNY, CUNY, Community Colleges, job creation programs and transportation. The vote has stunned local leaders.

Local observers feel that the Ra vote signals his intention to be an active arm of the Tea Party’s push to save millionaires at the expense of the middle class.  There is more to the story.  On Thursday, when Elmont.org called Ra’s Assembly office in Albany, his Chief of Staff claimed he did not know how Ra voted.  He, instead of simply saying he voted against the budget resolution, said he would have Ra call back.

The following day, Friday, Assemblyman Ra spoke with Elmont Online about his vote.  Ra implied that we could do better but had no knowledge of what better was. When questioned repeatedly about his stances with the Assembly resolution and Senate budget resolution votes, Ra was at a loss for words to explain what was in the resolution.

In fact, his conversation was liberally infused with pauses that lasted almost three minutes in some cases.  He even put Elmont.org on hold during the phone conversation. When asked how his vote would affect Elmont.  He said “the Governor’s budget proposal cuts state aid by 15 percent" and the resolution he voted against cuts state aid to Elmont by 14 percent.  Puzzled, Elmont.org asked why he would vote against a resolution that cuts state aid less to his district. Ra could not answer the question. He appeared confused. At one point in the conversation, Ra mistakenly quoted island-wide budget figures and could not discuss local figures.

More disturbing, Ra tried desperately to wrap himself in the New York State Senate resolution vote claiming he would have supported that resolution. Clearly, Mr. Ra does not understand that he was elected to the New York State Assembly, not the New York State Senate.  Note to Ra "Stand on your own two feet and remember you were elected to fight for Elmont, North Valley Stream and the 21st Assembly district in the State Assembly".  Stand up for us there. We have two Senators in the Senate who did stand up for us when Elmont needed them. You sadly, did not.

Let’s take Ra at his word for a moment. What should worry Elmont and North Valley Stream residents, not to mention the rest of the 21st Assembly district, is the fact that Assemblyman Ra is eager to tell us he likes the Senate resolution.

Ok, so does Elmont.org. It was the right approach but a lot more needs to be done.  What disturbs us is the fact that Mr. Ra could not tell Elmont.org one fact about the Senate resolution he supposedly supported, not one thing! Not good enough Assemblyman Ra, start doing your homework. Better yet. Start doing what you were elected to do. Fight for us in the Assembly.

Ra’s vote is  a Raw deal for Elmont, North Valley Stream and the surrounding communities.　 Our Assemblyman gave us the “Finger” when he sided with Finger Lakes Republican boss Assemblyman Brian Kolb and voted against a common sense restore aid resolution for his constituents.  A plan supported by Nassau County Assembly Members like Harvey Weiesenberg, Earlene Hooper, Michelle Schimel, Chuck Lavine and the majority of the New York State Assembly.

For most local observers, this vote has brought to reality the concern over the very young and inexperienced Assemblyman Ra who ran for Assembly last fall. For the past 16 years, Elmont had a Republican Assemblyman in Tom Alfano who stood up for communities like Elmont and North Valley Stream and never sold us out. Mr. Ra with this vote not only sold us out, but also showed our community his true colors.

Assemblyman Ra has shown us that he is not in the same mold as Assemblyman Alfano, who voted against his party repeatedly to insure that our local schools and hospitals got what they needed.　 In the worst of times, when Gov. Pataki proposed cuts, Tom Alfano held out his vote and even over-rode Governor Pataki because the cuts disproportionately and negatively affected Elmont, North Valley Stream and the rest of the 21st Assembly District.

It was well known that Mr. Alfano did not win popularity contests with upstate Republican bosses, but as he was very fond of saying to community groups, “they don’t understand our community, its needs and what our values are.” Tom Alfano was right.

So what has Mr. Ra told us about himself with his vote? Ra says he will protect the millionaires, none who live in his district. Ra says increase school taxes. When he votes against increasing State Aid to our schools that is what happens. Ra says cut programs to the disabled, cut summer school, local diplomas and summer programs.

For our college students, Assemblyman Ra said cut college loan programs. Increase tuition and cut services to SUNY, CUNY and Nassau Community College. For our Hospitals, Assemblyman Ra said cut services, close hospitals, cut services to the elderly, infirm and preventative care.

However, we can add this, Mr. Ra will go to any length to protect one class of person in the 21st Assembly district, the millionaires and special interests. Unfortunately, Mr. Ra needs to understand that votes do count. Standing up does count. Standing alone shows backbone. Remembering the people you represent matters.

Assemblyman Ra must be told with profound conviction, that he is on loan to the Assembly for 2 years, and at this rate it will be ONLY 2 YEARS.

School leaders, health care workers, 1199, labor unions, unemployed and underemployed, senior citizens, college students and working families from Stewart Manor, New Hyde Park, North Valley Stream, Valley Stream, Franklin Square, West Hempstead, Floral Park, Bellerose Terrace, Bellerose Village, Hempstead, South Floral Park and Elmont are shocked by Ra’s disregard for public education, health care, job creation and higher education.

“His vote signals his affinity for the extreme right of the Republican Party” said one Elmont resident. A prominent former school district education leader in Elmont added, “this is a nightmare. We have a State legislator who feels more at home with the Garden City crowd then those of us who have upside-down mortgages and are working incredibly hard to pay taxes.

Even in his hometown of Franklin Square, a prominent PTA member of John Street School said, “this does not surprise us at all. Ed Ra visited our schools, and when we asked about education issues, he looked at people with a blank stare. He does not really understand public education. His vote to deny our schools in Franklin Square funding should come as no shock.”

Another local leader pointed out, “when you grow up going to an elite private school like Chaminade and spend your entire life in private institutions” as Ra did, “this is how he treats public education. He is clueless about the needs of the real community he says he is representing.”

A Valley Stream 13 School district leader active in Island-wide school issues noted, “this vote shows us something important. We have an arch conservative Assemblyman who has staked his claim on cutting taxes for the wealthy and the middle class be damned.”

A prominent West Hempstead school activist for over 20 years added, “this is very concerning to all of us. I have been to Albany for over a decade and have always had a partner with Dean Skelos and Tom Alfano. Assemblyman Ra is taking us in a direction that PTAs, schools and communities like West Hempstead will not be pleased.”

Ra joins the likes of his hometown hero Sean Hanity, Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh who are the irrational voices for the wealthy. Ra explains “I don’t want to see tax hikes and the budget resolution would have extended the millionaire tax.” In the end, Ra’s vote has ordered local public schools to raise taxes to make up for the tax breaks for millionaires he is defending.

What a Raw Deal Ra. While Assemblyman Ra's vote signaled his alliance with the wealthy and powerful in Albany, it showed a total lack of regard and respect for the diversity in his district. Whether Mr. Ra likes it or not, he represents communities of ethnic and religious minorities.  Communities that are systemically underserved and marginalized. Up until 2011, an Assemblyman that “got it” represented these communities in the NYS Assembly. Ra, with your vote they are now voiceless.