White Plains CitizeNetReporter - Labor Coalition Touts Bradley. Calls Matusow Tax Position

WPCNR Afternoon Tribune. By John F. Bailey. August 14, 2002: The White Plains Labor Coalition, representing the police, firefighters, teachers and the CSEA, endorsed Adam Bradley Wednesday as their choice for Assemblyperson in the 89th District.

WHITE PLAINS LABOR LINES UP FOR BRADLEY: On the steps of the Public Safety Building, the White Plains Labor Coalition stood behind Adam Bradley in his race against Naomi Matusow. L to R, Jim Carrier, of the WPPBA, Duncan McRae, head of the WPLC, Mr. Bradley, and Bob Bogart of the retired firefighters.
Photo by WPCNR

Citing incumbent Assemblyperson Naomi Matusow’s refusal to support the White Plains sales tax, Duncan MacRae, head of the Coalition, Jim Carrier of the White Plains PBA, and Bob Bogart of the retired firefighters, spoke on Bradley’s behalf. MacRae said the Coalition was contemplating reaching out to other labor groups in other towns in the 89th district to acquire their support for Mr. Bradley.

McRae said this was the first time the White Plains Labor Coalition had ever endorsed a candidate in the primary. He said, “It is egregious to us that Naomi Matusow won’t support our sales tax.”

Jim Carrier, President of the White Plains Police Benevolent Association, said that without the ½% sales tax, the city police and fire force would be exposed to the possibility of layoffs, and a property tax increase: “Our choice (Adam Bradley) is easy and we support him.”

Bob Bogart, speaking on behalf of the retired firefighters, said, “We interviewed Naomi Matusow three times and each time she vehemently refused to even consider the question of supporting the sales tax. She said she felt it would hurt her with the Republican constituency in her district. Now there is no Republican running against her. What’s her excuse now?”

Mr. Bradley said, “The city workforce support as a whole, I really appreciate the White Plains Labor Coalition endorsement in the Democratic Primary (September 10). In the past White Plains has been blessed with excellent representation. (Former Assemblyperson) Audrey Hochberg sponsored the original ½% sales tax. White Plains sales tax is 7-3/4% less than Yonkers, Mount Vernon and New Rochelle. It is a small price when you realize that White Plains, a city of 50,000 residents, we have to provide services for 250,000 people Monday through Friday. It is unfair to require us to accept a 30% property tax increase, or lay off police and firemen, (if that ½% is not supported).

Bradley: Matusow “irresponsible.”

He continued to say, “It is absolutely irresponsible of a state legislator to neglect obvious needs of their communities.”

Bradley added that the county faced a $102-109 Million budget gap, and possibly a 29% hike in the county property tax to close the gap. “We need to protect the property owner in this county.” He said he would listen and work “to serve the needs of each community” in the 89th district.

Up to 100 police and firefighters could be laid off.

Mr. MacRae added at the cose of the news conference that up to 100 police and firefighter might be trimmed from the two departments in White Plains if the city did not raise the property tax to make up for the ½% shortfall.

Matusow Changes Indian Point Position.

Commenting after the news conference on Ms. Matusow’s upcoming Indian Point Forum on Risks, August 21, Adam Bradley pointed out that Mrs. Matusow, who previously had said she favored decommissioning Indian Point if alternative energy sources could replace the power lost from closing the point, and this week called for closing Indian Point “immediately”, is echoing his personal political position.

“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” Bradley said, referring to Matusow’s strengthening her Indian Point closure stance. He took the opportunity to criticize her for not knowing that White Plains High School was scheduled to be a decontamination station in the event a radiation leak occurred and persons had to be bussed out of the Indian Point area.


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